Know Your Deadlines
Appeals have strict filing deadlines. A Notice of Appeal must generally be filed within 30 days of sentencing. Contact us immediately after a conviction to protect your appellate rights.
Post-conviction relief
Criminal Appeals in Pennsylvania
A conviction is not necessarily the end of the road. If you or a loved one has been convicted of a crime in Pennsylvania, you may have the right to appeal. Dutko & Chwiecko Trial Attorneys handle direct appeals and post-conviction matters throughout the Pennsylvania court system.
Fresh Eyes on Your Case
We review trial records, transcripts, and prior counsel's work to identify issues that were preserved for appeal or that may support post-conviction relief.
Experienced Appellate Counsel
Our attorneys have handled serious felony cases through trial and understand how trial errors translate into appellate issues. We bring that trial experience to every appeal.
Appeals & Post-Conviction Matters We Handle
Direct Appeals
A direct appeal challenges errors that occurred during your trial or sentencing. We review the record for preserved issues and present the strongest possible appellate arguments.
Superior Court Appeals
Most Pennsylvania criminal appeals go to the Superior Court. We have experience briefing and arguing before the Superior Court on a range of criminal issues.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
We evaluate cases for Pennsylvania Supreme Court review and petition for allowance of appeal when significant legal issues are presented.
Sentencing Appeals
If your sentence was illegal, excessive, or based on an error, you may have grounds for a sentencing appeal. We analyze your sentence and identify every available challenge.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
If your trial attorney made serious errors that affected the outcome of your case, you may have a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel under the PCRA.
Newly Discovered Evidence
Evidence that was not available at trial may support a new trial motion or PCRA petition. We investigate and present newly discovered evidence claims.
Constitutional Violations
Violations of your Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, or Fourteenth Amendment rights may provide grounds for relief on appeal or in post-conviction proceedings.
Federal Habeas Corpus
After exhausting state remedies, federal habeas corpus may be available. We evaluate federal habeas claims and represent clients in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Why Appellate Experience Matters
Appellate practice is different from trial practice. An effective appeal requires identifying the legal issues preserved in the trial record, researching the applicable law, and presenting those issues persuasively in written briefs and oral argument. Not every trial attorney is an effective appellate advocate.
At Dutko & Chwiecko, our attorneys have handled serious felony cases from arrest through trial and understand how trial errors are preserved and presented on appeal. We bring that trial-level knowledge to every appellate matter we handle.
Attorney Dutko has extensive experience with post-conviction matters including PCRA appeals in Schuylkill County, where he has served as court-appointed criminal defense counsel. If you or a loved one has been convicted, contact us to discuss whether appellate or post-conviction relief may be available.
Convicted? You May Still Have Options.
Appellate deadlines are strict and unforgiving. Contact Dutko & Chwiecko as soon as possible after a conviction to protect your right to appeal.