Overview of Stephen Preziosi
Being an appeals lawyer is more than a profession; it is a calling. Knowing and understanding legal issues is fundamental, but only one aspect of the job. Being a researcher, writer, fact checker, and storyteller are the necessary skills; weaving them into the cloth of advocacy is the art.
We are a boutique firm that handles only Federal Criminal Appeals in the Circuit Courts of Appeal throughout the United States and the United States Supreme Court. We are focused on finding and researching legal issues for Federal Criminal Appeals, whether you were convicted after trial or after a plea agreement.
It is and has been my firm belief that Federal Criminal Appeals are unlike any other type of case. These appeals encompass not only procedural rules of both the lower courts and the appellate courts, but they also encompass rules of evidence, statutory rules of a specific criminal act, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and especially United States Constitutional rules and issues. The unique confluence of all of these legal issues makes Federal Criminal Appeals particularly complex.
We are highly skilled brief writers and we can review an entire trial record or a sentencing record after a plea. Finding legal issues in both of these situations is the core of our practice. We will leave nothing to chance, no stone unturned, and we strive to achieve success in your case. The stakes are high, the consequences are serious, and you need serious representation for your Federal Criminal Appeal.
Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-APPEALS (1-800-277-3257)
We Will Expose The Legal Issues That The Judge And Your Lawyer Missed
After the consultation, the first step in the appeal process is to scrutinize the court record, whether it is a trial record or the plea and sentence. We learn the details and issues of your case thoroughly by examining court transcripts, exhibits and motions. Crafting each legal issue for the appellate court’s review and conducting legal research are fundamental to your case; it’s where we start. Making sure every issue is covered and comprehensively researched is the starting point for a great legal brief. We will always run through numerous drafts of every brief before submitting it to the Court to ensure that no detail is lost; legal issues, case law, statement of facts (telling your side of the story), even grammar, sentence structure and paragraph structure are all essential parts of the process of creating your appellate brief. Your brief will be filed electronically and by hard copy with the Ninth Circuit. Knowing how to file is a key part to making deadlines with the Circuit Court of Appeals. After we file your brief the Government will file an answering brief and we will then have the opportunity to draft a “reply,” attacking the Government’s arguments against you. Each of these stages is essential to the appellate argument, each will receive our meticulous attention.
We Are Experienced In Addressing Questions Posed By Federal Appellate Judges.
Oral argument is a dynamic and fluid roller coaster ride for even the most experienced attorney. This is an interactive rapid-fire session where we advocate for you before a panel of Federal Judges; they ask questions, we answer and persuade; time is limited, preparation is paramount. Federal appellate courts differ from the trial courts; oral argument provides an appellate attorney with a limited amount of time to present your case and answer questions from the judges. But more than answering questions, oral argument is an opportunity to persuade the Court. It is a face-to-face meeting with the judges that will decide your case; it is the lawyer’s opportunity to probe the Court to see where the judges harbor doubts about the legal arguments raised in the appellate brief. Every question asked by a Judge on the panel is gold. Every question is an opportunity to understand and persuade. Our lawyers understand the essence and importance of the moment. We are there every step of the way arguing for you.
Our Federal Criminal Appeals Attorneys handle every type of criminal appeal before the Circuit Courts of Appeal. This includes, but is not limited to
- Mail and wire fraud;
- White-collar crimes such as bank fraud, credit card fraud, insider trading, and public corruption;
- Drug crimes including conspiracy, possession, manufacturing, and sale;
- Gang activity, extortion, kidnapping, and robbery;
- Healthcare fraud and insurance fraud;
- Violent crimes including assault, manslaughter, and murder; and
- Firearm possession and manufacturing, and selling guns and ammo across state and federal lines.
Nothing goes unnoticed with our Federal Appeals Attorneys. We scour the trial record to find every appealable issue, as well as our own in-depth investigation to find new issues that failed to come up at the trial. No one can guarantee your best chance at justice than our Federal Appeals Attorneys.
Contact us at 1-800-APPEALS (1-800-277-3257) to get us started on the case.