In certain instances, a criminal conviction or a plea may be overturned because of an error or irregularity in the trial or plea, or newly discovered evidence.  Post-conviction proceedings differ significantly from those in the trial court because they are based primarily on written submissions to the court. There is no testimony from witnesses and no jury. In order to be an effective criminal appellate lawyer, an attorney must be a good writer, a good researcher, and someone who understands criminal law.

What is An Appeal?

In the context of criminal law, an appeal is generally a challenge to a guilty verdict at trial.  On appeal, a convicted person may raise a number of issues directed at errors in the trial.  These may include improper instructions on the law by the court, improper prosecutorial tactics, or improper evidentiary rulings.  From a lawyer’s perspective, appealing a case involves reading the recorded testimony of the trial and looking for any potential error.  Once error has been identified, the lawyer submits issues in writing to the court of appeals, explaining the facts and the law, and why there was an error at trial.  If the appellate court is persuaded by the lawyer’s written submission and, in some cases, argument before the court, the court may grant a defendant a new trial or punishment hearing, or reverse the conviction entirely.

What are Other Post-Conviction Remedies?

Motion for New Trial

A motion for new trial is filed following a guilty verdict or erroneous plea.  The purpose of a motion for new trial is to ask the trial court to set aside the conviction or plea and effectively start the proceedings anew.  A motion for new trial is often the “first bite at the apple” with respect to post-conviction relief because it is heard by the trial judge and not an appellate court.  However, a motion for new trial must be filed not later than 30 days after the court imposes or suspends sentence in open court.

New trials must be granted for the following reasons:

  • when the defendant has been unlawfully tried in absentia or has been denied counsel;
  • when the court has misdirected the jury about the law or has committed some other material error likely to injure the defendant’s rights;
  • when the verdict has been decided by lot or in any manner other than a fair expression of the jurors’ opinion;
  • when a juror has been bribed to convict or has been guilty of any other corrupt conduct;
  • when a material defense witness has been kept from court by force, threats, or fraud, or when evidence tending to establish the defendant’s innocence has been intentionally destroyed or withheld, thus preventing its production at trial;
  • when, after retiring to deliberate, the jury has received other evidence; when a juror has talked with anyone about the case; or when a juror became so intoxicated that his or her vote was probably influenced as a result;
  • when the jury has engaged in such misconduct that the defendant did not receive a fair and impartial trial; or
  • when the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence

Writs of Habeas Corpus

Writs of habeas corpus can be used after other appellate remedies have been exhausted.  Not all errors are the proper subject of a writ of habeas corpus.  Relief based upon a writ of habeas corpus may be granted where there is fundamental constitutional error in a case, where new evidence has been discovered, or where it has been demonstrated that a person is actually innocent.

Parole Hearings

Parole hearing representation will not undo or modify a conviction, but effective representation at a parole hearing may be the difference between whether a person is granted or denied parole.  A qualified attorney can help an inmate bring evidence and arguments to the attention of the parole board in favor of an early release.

Houston Criminal Appeals lawyer

As a Board Certified criminal defense lawyer, an experienced civil litigator, and an honors graduate of Texas’s most prestigious law school, the University of Texas at Austin, David Nachtigall’s research and writing skills have been honed through years of practice and real-world testing in a variety of contexts.  David is a thorough researcher and a skilled writer who has used his writing skills to successfully defend and preserve the rights of accused individuals.

Contact Houston criminal appeals lawyer David Nachtigall to discuss a potential appeal or other post-conviction matter.

Testimonials

“David is a consummate professional. Through a normal background check I found out I had a very old warrant, I attempted to call the county and they would’t even talk to me. It could have cost me my job. I contacted David (one of the challenges is I live 500 miles away); and he secured a dismissal the next day, saving my career. He cut right through the red tape. I’d highly recommend David to anyone!”
R.B., charged with Misdemeanor
“I highly recommend criminal defense attorney David Nachtigall. While he represented my son, David consistently displayed a calm and professional demeanor, careful attention to detail, and thoroughly researched every aspect of a very complex and challenging criminal case. His ability to deduct the truth was commendable despite the complainants who kept changing their story. I am thankful we had David on our side. His previous experience working in the DA’s office was an advantage in understanding how the courts worked. I especially appreciated his compassion to stay in touch with us and that he was easily reachable when we had questions. If you need an attorney that will truly listen and fight for you, I recommend David Nachtigall.”
P.T., parent of child charged with Felony
“David Nachtigall is a true professional. He handled my case (a second degree felony) with such expertise that the charges were dropped. His experience as a former prosecutor proved to be a tremendous asset. He kept me well informed and provided much needed personal support. I highly recommend David for any legal need you may have.”
P.S., client charged with Felony
“I was recently charged with assault on a peace officer which is a felon charge. I have never been in trouble with the law in my life. I was raised in a strict catholic house I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hired David after dealing with a bad lawyer. He picked up the slack with no problem. David did everything in his power to get the charges dropped. I left with a misdemeanor charge and 6 months probation. David answered ALL of my phone calls & emails. He showed up to every court setting and didn’t send anyone for him. I would highly recommend David to anyone.”
J.U., client charged with Felony
“David Nachtigall was my attorney for a DWI that I received in December of 2013. He really did a great job on my case. He was always very polite, prompt, and diligent when dealing with any questions that I had and he always took the correct steps to accomplish our desired outcome. Even though my case was stacked against me, he still was able to negotiate a DWI Pre-trial Intervention plea (which was the best and most realistic outcome considering the circumstances). Just to make things clear, the deal I received is not one that is easily ascertained. In fact, it took two tries to receive it. However, thanks to Mr. Nachtigall’s hard work and persistence, the deal went through. He never kept me in the dark about anything in reference to my case, he was not difficult to contact, and he always returned my phone calls as soon as possible or as soon as he had an answer to any question I asked (all of which are increasingly rare qualities in a busy lawyer). I can’t thank him enough for his help, and I would recommend David Nachtigall to anyone in need of a great, hard-working lawyer who knows how to get things done efficiently and effectively.”
J.C., client charged with Misdemeanor
“I was recently traveling on business in Houston and was caught with a tiny amount marijuana. All it takes in Texas is half a joint and you are in a world of hurt. Dumb mistake on my part. Let me be the first to advise everyone in a similar situation, you will need strong representation. The Houston court system is beyond challenging and unbelievably confusing. What I thought was no big deal could’ve meant losing my license, probation, and possibly more jail time. Typically people hate attorneys, David saved me in a huge way. He treated me like a friend and always kept me posted on the status of my case. He was willing to work with me due to my work schedule and he came to his office, before it even opened, to meet me. Because of his experience and persistence my case was dropped. I am so thankful I found him and would highly recommend his service. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.”
J.W., client charged with Misdemeanor
“Within my industry I consult with many lawyers and whilst on a business trip to Houston I required legal counsel and David was recommended to me. Initially David’s age surprised me; as it did not reflect his wealth of experience, local contacts and immediate control that he took of my case and me. David promptly providing sound, logical and concise legal counsel which demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the local system and the law. David has great integrity and a supreme confidence born from experience. A quiet man but with a firm, resolute character that enabled a professional court demeanour that when coupled with his succinct legal strategy provided for a most successful conclusion in court – Thank you David. I vouch for and strongly recommend David services, he is great lawyer.”
J.G., client charged with Misdemeanor
“David was the first and only person I considered calling for legal advice for a friend in an unusual and complicated situation. His advice was spot-on accurate and the best solution. David is not only one of the smartest lawyers I know but he also has a unique grasp of the nuances involved in working with different personalities and negotiating on behalf of them. He can quickly synthesize various outcomes and options into a well-defined solution. He does it all with integrity, clarity and confidence that I’d want representing myself or a loved one.”
B.S., client under Felony Investigation
“Mr. Nachtigall is an exemplary attorney. Overall, he was always responsive to the various amount of questions I had, also he kept me informed on how things were looking during my case. I have spoken to plenty of attorneys, but Mr. Nachtigall seemed to stand out for his sincerity, his willing to make your case his responsibility and maintaining a positive attitude that seem to be hard to find nowadays.”
A.R., client charged with Felony
“David went above and beyond to help me in defense of a DWI charge. With his background as a prosecutor, he already knew the ins and outs of navigating through the process and was able to get me a better deal than I otherwise would have received. His hard work, open communication, dedication and intelligence are all very valuable for anyone in an unfortunate situation like I was. I couldn’t be more pleased with his representation and would definitely recommend him to anyone considering hiring an attorney.”
charged with Misdemeanor
David is one of the most polished, even tempered attorneys I’ve ever met. I was the defendant on a spurious criminal case and he carefully dissected each unsubstantiated allegation and was able to refute the basis for the charge itself (which was the intent to commit a crime). I have to say that he really made the prosecuting attorney look foolish by carefully researching and laying out the facts combined with his patient, even tempered demeanor. I also appreciated the fact that he knew the behind the scenes political motivations for why the prosecution in the D.A.’s office acted so illogically-he knows these people and their work environment, so he was able to use this to craft a winning strategy to get my case dropped.
J.B., charged with Felony