Dallas Federal Appeals Lawyer

federal appeal lawyer

After a wrongful conviction or an unjust criminal sentence, you can file an appeal to request relief from the appellate courts. However, appellate courts infrequently overturn convictions and sentences. If you choose to appeal your federal criminal case, you need legal counsel with extensive appellate experience. Broden & Mickelsen, LLP can help.

With over 60 years of combined experience in criminal law, our attorneys have a proven track record of success in post-conviction, appellate, and habeas proceedings in federal courts in Dallas and throughout the country. Contact us for a free initial case review to learn more about how our federal criminal appeals lawyers can help you with your appeal. Our firm stands ready to advocate on your behalf.

What Is a Federal Criminal Appeal?

A federal criminal appeal allows a defendant convicted of a federal crime to obtain relief if errors occurred during their trial that resulted in a wrongful conviction or an unfair or illegal sentence. Although defendants usually have waived their right to appeal when pleading guilty pursuant to a plea agreement, they have the right to appeal a conviction at trial. The government cannot appeal an acquittal but may have the right to challenge pre-trial rulings or a decision regarding sentencing, according to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

An appellate court may grant a criminal defendant various kinds of relief. Appellate courts can take any of the following actions regarding a trial court’s decision:

  • Uphold or affirm the conviction or sentence
  • Remand or send the case back to the trial court for further proceedings
  • Reverse or negate the conviction or sentence
  • Modify the conviction or sentence

If the lower court’s decision is affirmed, defendants may file a petition for writ of certiorari to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal. The Supreme Court provides a final opportunity for appeal. However, the Court has the discretion whether to take up an appeal and only hears a limited number of cases each year.

Our Experience with Federal Appeals

The federal criminal appeals lawyers at Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, have extensive experience representing defendants in appeals stretching back several decades. We have argued cases in seven of the twelve U.S. Circuit Courts and in the U.S. Supreme Court. Many criminal lawyers in Dallas do not handle appeals. However, our attorneys have received certifications in Criminal Defense Law and Criminal Appellate Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, reflecting our deep knowledge and skill in criminal law and criminal appeals. Our firm has handled numerous published federal appellate court cases, including:

  • United States v. Brown, 898 F.3d 636 (5th Cir. 2018)
  • United States v. Heard, 891 F.3d 574 (5th Cir. 2018)
  • United States v. Oti, 872 F.3d 678 (5th Cir. 2017)
  • United States v. Nanda, 867 F.3d 522 (5th Cir. 2017)
  • United States v. Jackson, 849 F.3d 54 (3d Cir. 2017)
  • United States v. Holley, 831 F.3d 322 (5th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S.Ct. 2118 (2017)
  • United States v. Mahmood, 820 F.3d 177 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 137 S.Ct. 122 (2016)
  • United States v. Bowen, 818 F.3d 179 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 136 S.Ct. 2477 (2016)
  • United States v. Rodriguez-Lopez, 756 F.3d 422 (5th Cir. 2014)
  • Ladd v. Stephens, 748 F.3d 637 (5th Cir. 2014)
  • Scott v. Stephens, 748 F.3d 609 (5th Cir. 2014)
  • United States v. Simpson, 741 F.3d 539 (5th Cir. 2014)
  • United States v. Hughes, 741 F.3d 539 (5th Cir. 2013)
  • Cobb v. Thaler, 682 F.3d 364 (5th Cir. 2012)
  • United States v. Miller, 666 F.3d 905 (5th Cir. 2012)
  • United States v. Isiwele, 635 F.3d 196 (5th Cir. 2011)
  • United States v. Alston, 626 F.3d 397 (8th Cir. 2010)
  • Foster v. Thaler, 607 F.3d 391 (5th Cir.), cert denied, 131 S.Ct. 822 (2010)
  • United States v. Ogba, 526 F.3d 214 (5th Cir. 2008)
  • United States v. Gharbi, 510 F.3d 550 (5th Cir. 2007)
  • Horn v. Quarterman, 508 F.3d 306 (5th Cir. 2007)
  • United States v. Shum, 496 F.2d 390 (5th Cir. 2007)
  • United States v. Scroggins, 485 F.3d 824 (5th Cir.), cert denied, 128 S.Ct. 324 (2007)
  • United States v. Caver, 470 F.3d 220 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 1921 (2007)
  • United States v. Fuchs, 467 F.3d 889 (5th Cir. 2006), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 1502 (2007)
  • United States v. Garza, 448 F.3d 294 (5th Cir. 2006)
  • United States v. Ragsdale, 426 F.3d 765 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1202 (2006)
  • United States v. Saldana, 427 F.3d 298 (5th Cir 2005)
  • United States v. Scroggins, 411 F.3d 572 (5th Cir 2005)
  • United States v. Dotson, 407 F.3d 387 (5th Cir 2005)
  • Sample v. Morrison, 406 F.3d 310 (5th Cir 2005)
  • United States v. Scroggins, 379 F.3d 233 (5th Cir. 2004), cert. granted, 125 S.Ct 1062 (2005)
  • Mosley v. Dretke, 370 F.3d 467 (5th Cir 2004)
  • United States v. Miles, 360 F.3d 472 (5th Cir 2004)
  • United States v. Reinhart, 357 F.3d 521 (5th Cir. 2004)
  • United States v. Wells, 262 F.3d 455 (5th Cir. 2001)
  • United States v. Principe, 203 F.3d 849 (5th Cir. 2000)
  • Matthew v. Johnson, 201 F.3d 353 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 291 (2000)
  • Chambers v. Johnson, 197 F.3d 732 (5th Cir. 1999)
  • United States v. Ramirez, 174 F.3d 584 (5th Cir. 1999)
  • United States v. Hogue, 132 F.3d 1087 (5th Cir. 1998)
  • United States v. Sullivan, 112 F.3d 180 (5th Cir. 1997)
  • United States v. Wells, 101 F.3d 370 (5th Cir. 1996)
  • United States v. Schinnell, 80 F.3d 1064 (5th Cir. 1996)
  • Clark v. Collins, 870 F.Supp. 132 (N.D. Tex. 1994), rev=d sub nom., Clark v. Scott, 70 F.3d 386 (5th Cir. 1995), cert. denied sub nom., Clark v. Johnson, 116 S. Ct. 1444 (1996)
  • United States v. Meeks, 69 F.3d 742 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • United States v. Underwood, 61 F.3d 306 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • United States v. Wadley, 59 F.3d 510 (5th Cir. 1995), reh=g denied, 83 F.3d 108 (5th Cir.)
    (Wiener, J., dissenting from denial of reh=g en banc), cert. denied, 117 S.Ct 240 (1996)
  • United States v. Jackson, 50 F.3d 1335 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • United States v. Green, 46 F.3d 461 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1167 (1995)
  • United States v. Bell, 46 F.3d 442 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • United States v. Fadipe, 43 F.3d 993 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • United States v. Wilson, 36 F.3d 1298 (5th Cir. 1994)
  • United States v. Smithers, 27 F.3d 142 (5th Cir. 1994)
  • United States v. Gross, 26 F.3d 552 (5th Cir. 1994)
  • United States v. Murphy, 996 F.2d 94 (5th Cir. 1993)
  • United States v. Voda, 994 F.2d 149 (5th Cir. 1993)
  • United States v. Wangler, 987 F.2d 228 (5th Cir. 1993)

Our legal team represents clients in federal appeals in Dallas and nationwide. We can help you with direct appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and post-conviction proceedings. Our firm can also file petitions for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. When you choose Broden & Mickelsen, LLP to help with your case, you can expect us to put in our maximum effort in pursuing a favorable result for you.