When facing criminal charges, your constitutional right to effective legal representation is critical. Unfortunately, some defendants discover that their trial lawyer made serious mistakes that affected the outcome of their case. If you believe your attorney’s errors harmed you, you may be able to seek relief for ineffective counsel in Winter Garden. Our team could help you challenge wrongful convictions and protect your rights under the law.
We understand how devastating it can feel if incompetent defense compromises the outcome of your trial. As former prosecutors and experienced criminal defense lawyers, we know how to evaluate trial records and determine whether ineffective representation played a role in the outcome of your case. With decades of courtroom experience, our team works hard to ensure fairness and justice.
You can pursue redress for incompetent representation in Winter Garden if you believe that it unfairly impacted your trial. However, not every mistake an attorney makes qualifies as incompetence. State courts apply a legal standard established by the Supreme Court.
To succeed, you must show that your lawyer’s performance fell below a reasonable standard of professional conduct and that this failure directly harmed your case. Common issues that may support a claim include:
Such failures can significantly undermine the fairness of a trial. When your liberty is in danger, our lawyers could hold the system accountable for the justice you deserve.
You can pursue remedy for substandard defense in Winter Garden under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure § 3.850. This process requires detailed legal arguments based on the trial record. Our attorneys could gather transcripts, evidence, and affidavits to show how your attorney’s failures affected the outcome of your case.
If successful, the court may grant a new trial, allow you to withdraw your plea, or overturn your conviction. Typically, you must file a motion within two years of your conviction becoming final, although there are rare exceptions to this deadline. You must act quickly, or you risk missing the deadline and forfeiting your right to legal redress.
Many substandard defense cases involve prosecutions handled by a state attorney’s office and arrests made by a local police department or sheriff’s office. Our lawyers could carefully analyze the trial record, identify legal errors, and present persuasive arguments to demonstrate how those errors deprived you of a fair trial.
You may be wondering how post-conviction relief differs from an appeal. While an appeal challenges errors that the judge made, a motion for incompetent defense focuses on mistakes that your lawyer made. Both processes are complex, but with our representation, you could pursue the remedy best suited to your situation.
Challenging a conviction on grounds of ineffective counsel is not easy, but our Winter Garden attorneys have the experience and determination to support you. Our lawyers include former prosecutors who understand how the state builds its case. This insight allows us to expose weaknesses in the original trial and show how a competent defense could have achieved a different result.
We are proud to be recognized among Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and to have earned the trust of countless clients. With more than 100 years of combined experience, our team has successfully represented individuals facing some of the most difficult legal challenges. In post-conviction cases, we could bring the same relentless advocacy to protect your constitutional rights.
If you believe your trial lawyer failed to provide effective representation, you should not have to live with an unjust conviction. One of our skilled attorneys could review your case, explain your options, and advocate for the fair outcome you deserve. Do not wait until the deadline passes and you lose the opportunity to seek justice.
Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation. We could help you pursue relief for ineffective counsel in Winter Garden and work toward reclaiming your future.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys