What are the chances of winning an appeal in Texas?

If you or someone you care about has been arrested -- and convicted -- of a crime in Texas, it can be difficult not to feel hopeless. After the courts have given their verdict, it appears that the deal is done, right?

Not necessarily. You may still have the possibility of overturning the criminal conviction, through either an appeal or writ of habeas corpus. If you feel the judge made an unfair ruling at your trial, then an appeal most likely makes sense. If you have new evidence to present that wasn’t available at trial, or you feel your original criminal defense attorney offered ineffective assistance, then you’ll probably want to pursue a writ. Either way, a proven appellate attorney such as Chris Perri in Austin can help you decide which avenue is the most promising.

However, keep in mind that appeals and writs are difficult to win. If you’ve already invested significant time, money, and energy on the case, only to end up with a conviction, you may wonder if you should keep up the fight. You may be wondering about the chances of really winning an appeal in Texas. Or what are the chances of overturning the conviction?

The Answer: It Depends

Some lawyers will tell you at first glance that you have no chance of success, while others will guarantee you anything just to get your business. The truth is, no criminal defense appellate attorney worth their salt can offer you a truthful answer without thoroughly analyzing the case.

It’s true, appeals and writs in Texas are challenging to win, but they do happen, and it always comes down to the details of each specific situation. Each case is unique, and the best attorneys treat them that way.

Your chances of winning an appeal or writ are also directly related to the quality and experience of the attorney you have on your side. It’s important to invest in strong legal representation from someone who has significant experience practicing post-conviction law and a proven history of success. You want someone like Chris Perri, who is smart, zealous, and honest with you every step of the way.

Our Process at Chris Perri Law

Based in Austin and practicing in Travis County, Hays County, Williamson County, Bell County, Bastrop County, Burnet County, and throughout Texas, Chris Perri is one of few attorneys in the area to have a robust post-conviction practice. Through his 15+ years of helping people overturn wrongful convictions, Chris Perri has refined his process in order to offer the best and fairest service to those seeking help. Below is our 3-step process, explained.

Step 1 – Free Case Consultation

If you are interested in pursuing a writ or appeal, the first step is to schedule a free case consultation with our firm, Chris Perri Law. This meeting will give both you, and us, the opportunity to assess if it makes sense to work together. 

During this initial consultation, we’ll provide a cost estimate, as well as a recommendation on whether to pursue a writ or appeal. If we believe there is no chance of either route being successful, we’ll be upfront and tell you. We pride ourselves on honest and straightforward communication. If we do take your case, you can be confident that we will fight with everything we have to obtain the best result possible.

Step 2 – Case Assessment

If you move forward with hiring our criminal defense firm, we operate in two phases. First, we begin with a case assessment. This is before the writing of the writ or appeal begins, so you only have to pay for the case assessment, not the entire process, upfront.

During the case assessment phase, Chris Perri will thoroughly analyze every angle of the case—no detail is too small. He’ll study all records, interview witnesses, and develop a robust assessment of the strength of arguments he could raise in an appeal or writ.

Step 3 – File Writ or Appeal 

After our firm has completed the case assessment, you can then decide if you want to proceed with hiring our firm to write the writ or appeal. At this point in the process, Chris Perri will offer you his honest perspective on the case’s chance of success. Many attorneys in Texas will charge you for the entire process upfront, but we believe it’s most fair to handle post-conviction cases step by step.

If you decide to move forward, we will be with you every step of the way. We will draft a persuasive appeal or writ application, file it with the courts, and argue the case before judges on your behalf. An award-winning attorney who has argued in front of the 5th Circuit, Chris Perri has extensive experience overturning wrongful convictions in Texas through both appeals and writs. With our firm on your side, you can rest assured that you’ve put the case in the best hands possible.

 Based in Austin, Chris Perri Law Can Help

If you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted, it’s important to act fast, as the odds of winning an appeal or writ are best when not much time has passed. Serving Travis County, Hays County, Williamson County, Bell County, Bastrop County, Burnet County, and throughout Texas, Chris Perri Law is here to fight for your freedom and future. Contact our firm at (512) 269-0260 or www.chrisperrilaw.com to set up your free case consultation today.