Bell Folsom, P.A. has been contacted by an Innocence Project to help reverse a wrongful conviction. The case is extremely complicated, but essentially it seems that the client was wrongfully convicted of first degree murder because his trial counsel did an inadequate job.
There is a way to get a conviction reversed when your attorney at trial doesn’t do what they should – it’s called ineffective assistance of counsel, and it’s somewhat difficult to prove. First, unlike the “guilt” part of the hearing, the burden is on the defendant, not the prosecution, to prove that the lawyer was ineffective. Second, even if you prove your lawyer was ineffective, you still have to prove “prejudice” – meaning that if the lawyer had done what they were supposed to do, the jury’s verdict would have been different.
This case has really brought home to us how important the choice of a lawyer is. Even if you are completely innocent of the crime charged, your case depends on your lawyer’s ability to perform a proper investigation and have the facts ready to demonstrate your innocence to the jury. It also depends on your lawyer’s ability to identify, research and argue the appropriate issues.
At Bell Folsom, P.A., our attorneys practice nothing but criminal defense. We have devoted years to perfecting our practice, and are always looking for ways to improve. If you have been charged with a crime, whether it be a DUI or murder, be certain that you are hiring a firm that knows what they’re doing. Because when it’s your life on the line, amateurs simply aren’t going to cut it. Contact us immediately, so that we can start solving your criminal problems.