Appeals Attorney in Manhattan Beach

Experienced Help When A Conviction Feels Wrong

If you have been convicted or received a harsh sentence, you may feel uncertain about what comes next. A criminal appeal allows a higher court to review what happened in the trial court and determine whether serious legal errors affected the outcome. Working with a criminal appeals attorney early can help you understand whether an appeal is a realistic option.

At Stein & Markus, we represent people whose criminal cases arise from Los Angeles County courts that serve communities like Manhattan Beach and the rest of the South Bay. Our attorneys bring more than 75 years of combined criminal defense experience to every case. Our team includes a former Los Angeles criminal prosecutor with 33 years of experience, and that background helps us understand how the state will try to defend a conviction on appeal.

We know this may feel like your last chance and that the process can be hard to understand. Our goal is to review your case carefully, explain whether an appeal makes sense, and, if you choose to move forward, work to present your arguments clearly in the appellate court.

If you are considering an appeal after a conviction in Manhattan Beach, call (562) 512-7030 or contact our office to discuss your deadlines and next steps today.

Why Choose Stein & Markus for a Manhattan Beach Appeal

When you look for an appeals lawyer, you are not only hiring someone to file paperwork. You are choosing a team to examine the entire history of your case and decide which issues are strong enough to present to the appellate court. Our long history in California criminal courts means we have read many transcripts, challenged different types of evidence, and argued complex legal questions over decades.

Our firm brings together seasoned defense attorneys and a former Los Angeles criminal prosecutor who spent 33 years inside the same system that now seeks to uphold your conviction. That combination allows us to anticipate how the Attorney General or District Attorney is likely to respond, and we prepare briefs and arguments that address those positions directly. This dual perspective is particularly valuable for a criminal appeals attorney Manhattan Beach residents can turn to after a difficult verdict.

Our team has handled a wide range of criminal cases that later moved into the appellate process, including matters involving Manhattan Beach drug crime convictions and other complex charges. That experience helps us focus on the issues that matter most on appeal.

We also understand that appeals often follow serious and sensitive cases, including those involving Manhattan Beach sex crime convictions, where legal and procedural errors can significantly affect outcomes.

How Criminal Appeals Work

Many people come to us thinking that an appeal is a new trial. In reality, a criminal appeal asks a higher court to review the trial court record for legal errors. The appellate judges do not hear new witnesses or accept new evidence in a standard appeal. They read transcripts, rulings, and legal briefs to decide whether the law was applied correctly and whether any mistakes were serious enough to have affected the outcome.

The process usually starts with a notice of appeal, which must be filed within a short period after judgment. In many California criminal cases, that deadline is 60 days from the date of sentencing, although certain situations can have different rules. The specific timing for your case depends on the type of conviction and the court that handled it. Missing that deadline can limit your options, so it is important to act promptly after a conviction in Los Angeles County courts.

After the notice of appeal is filed, the record is prepared. This typically includes transcripts of hearings and trial, as well as exhibits and key documents from the case file. Once the record is ready, your appeals lawyer prepares an opening brief. That brief identifies legal issues, explains what the trial court did, and argues why those rulings were wrong under California or federal law. The prosecution then files a brief responding to those arguments, and we have an opportunity to submit a reply.

In many appeals, the court later schedules oral argument, where attorneys appear before a panel of appellate judges to answer questions and highlight the most important points. After that, the court issues a written decision. Outcomes can include affirming the conviction, reversing it, ordering a new trial, ordering a new sentencing hearing, or, in some situations, modifying certain parts of the judgment. The exact result in any individual case depends on the record and the issues raised.

Appeals can take many months and sometimes longer than a year to resolve, particularly in busy courts such as the California Court of Appeal that hears cases from Los Angeles County. During this time, our attorneys work to keep clients and families informed, explain important developments, and prepare the strongest arguments we can based on the law and the facts in the record.

Grounds For A Criminal Appeal

Not every disappointing verdict or sentence can be reversed on appeal. The appellate court usually looks for legal errors that occurred in the trial court and that might have affected the outcome. One of our first tasks is to review the record and evaluate whether there are such issues in your case, especially if the matter began in a Los Angeles County courthouse that serves the South Bay.

Common issues raised in criminal appeals can include problems with how evidence was admitted or excluded, incorrect or incomplete jury instructions, constitutional concerns, and mistakes at sentencing. In some cases, there may be claims of prosecutorial misconduct, such as improper arguments to the jury, or challenges to how the court handled motions before or during trial. These are all questions that turn on the specific facts and rulings in your case.

Ineffective assistance of counsel can sometimes be involved when trial lawyers fail to take steps that a reasonably careful attorney would have taken. Some of these claims are addressed on appeal, while others are handled through separate post conviction procedures. Our team reviews potential concerns about prior representation and can advise you on where and how those issues might be raised.

Some typical grounds for criminal appeals include:

• Improper admission or exclusion of evidence during trial
• Incorrect, misleading, or incomplete jury instructions
• Violations of constitutional rights, such as search and seizure issues
• Prosecutorial misconduct during argument or questioning
• Errors in applying sentencing laws or enhancements

When we act as a criminal appeals lawyer Manhattan Beach clients can rely on, we study the transcripts, motions, and exhibits to identify where the court may have gone wrong. Our former prosecutor’s insight helps us predict how the state will attempt to defend those rulings, and we craft arguments aimed at addressing those responses before they are even filed.

Our Approach To Your Appeal

Every appeal we handle begins with understanding your goals and the history of your case. During an initial consultation, we talk with you or your family about the conviction, the sentence, and any concerns you have about how the trial unfolded. We also review key documents and discuss important deadlines, including the notice of appeal. If you choose to move forward, we work to obtain the full trial court record.

Once we have the record, our attorneys read the transcripts carefully and identify potential appellate issues. We research the relevant statutes and case law, including decisions from the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court, to evaluate which arguments have the best chance of gaining the appellate court’s attention. Our goal is to focus on the strongest points rather than raise every possible complaint, because concentrated arguments are often more persuasive.

As an appeals attorney Manhattan Beach residents may consult after a conviction, we understand that communication is a vital part of this work. We explain which issues we plan to raise and why, answer questions about the process, and provide updates while briefs are being prepared and after they are filed. When oral argument is scheduled, we prepare thoroughly by studying the record, the briefs, and the law so we can respond to the judges’ questions directly.

Many of the cases we handle arise from courts in Los Angeles County and are reviewed by appellate judges in Los Angeles. Our familiarity with the way these courts operate benefits clients throughout the region. We also handle federal criminal matters where appeals are available, and we adapt our approach to the rules and expectations of each forum. Throughout, we strive to combine our decades of experience with careful preparation, so you know that every important part of your record has been examined.

Next Steps After A Conviction

In the days and weeks after a conviction or sentencing, it can be hard to think clearly about legal strategy. Time limits for starting an appeal, however, are strict. If your case was heard in a Los Angeles County court that serves Manhattan Beach or nearby communities, you should speak with an appeals lawyer as soon as you can to learn your options.

Some practical steps you can take now include:

• Keep copies of your sentencing paperwork and any documents you have from the court
• Avoid discussing case details on recorded jail or prison calls beyond what is necessary
• Ask family members to help gather contact information for your prior lawyer and potential witnesses
• Reach out promptly to appellate counsel to discuss deadlines and next steps

We regularly speak with both incarcerated clients and family members who are trying to help from the outside. During a confidential review, we can look at available documents, talk about what happened, and explain whether an appeal seems viable. Our team draws on many years in California criminal courts to provide honest feedback about what an appeal can and cannot do in your situation.

If you are looking for an appeals lawyer Manhattan Beach residents can trust for clear guidance, we are ready to talk with you. You can contact us at any time to schedule a consultation and to get answers to your immediate questions about the appellate process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a criminal appeal in California?

In many California criminal cases, you typically have 60 days from the date of judgment or sentencing to file a notice of appeal. Certain case types or situations can have different rules. It is important to have an attorney review your paperwork quickly so that no deadlines are missed.

Can I hire your firm if a different lawyer handled my trial?

Yes, you can usually hire a new lawyer for your appeal even if someone else represented you at trial. Many of our appellate matters come to us after other attorneys handled the earlier stages. We review the prior work carefully and evaluate whether new appellate issues can be raised.

What can a criminal appeal actually change in my case?

A successful appeal can sometimes result in a new trial, a new sentencing hearing, or correction of specific parts of a judgment. In other cases, the appellate court may affirm the conviction. The outcome depends on the legal errors found and how serious those errors were in your particular record.

How does a former prosecutor on your team help with appeals?

Our former Los Angeles criminal prosecutor spent decades building and defending convictions. That experience helps us anticipate how the state will respond to appellate arguments. We use that insight when choosing issues, drafting briefs, and preparing for oral argument, so we can address likely prosecution positions in advance.

Will I have to appear in court during my appeal?

Most criminal appeals are decided based on written briefs and oral argument by attorneys. Defendants usually do not appear in the appellate courtroom. If you are in custody, your physical location generally does not prevent your case from going forward, and we keep you informed about each step in the process.

If you are ready to talk about your options for challenging a conviction or sentence arising from courts that serve Manhattan Beach or the broader Los Angeles area, our team at Stein & Markus is here to listen. We will review your situation, explain the appeals process, and discuss how our experience may apply to your case.

To arrange a confidential consultation with an appeals attorney and learn more about how we approach criminal appeals in California, contact us today. We are available to answer your questions and to help you decide on the next step that makes sense for you and your family.

If you are ready to challenge a conviction or sentence from a Manhattan Beach case, Call (562) 512-7030 to speak with our team about your potential appeal.