A guilty verdict is only permanent when its appeal is final. 

​A guilty verdict is a devastating crisis, but the fight is not over. The next step is a direct appeal. 

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But a direct appeal is entirely different from a trial. It is not a second trial, nor is it a search for new witnesses; it is a meticulous, research-heavy battle fought on the pages of written briefs. It takes place in a different court, governed by a separate set of complex rules and rigid procedural deadlines. At this level of litigation, a single technical misstep can end a case before its merits are ever reviewed.

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To maintain the rigorous standards required in this arena, McDonnell Appeals is a strictly limited practice. We do not handle criminal trials, negotiate plea agreements, and we do not represent clients in municipal courts. Our focus is exclusive: we represent individuals in criminal direct appeals, post-conviction relief, and writs. ​We will navigate you through the appellate process with the precise procedural mastery and relentless advocacy your freedom demands. 

 

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