How Much Does a Criminal Appeal Cost in Texas?
The average criminal appeal costs around $30,000. Read on to learn more about our process and pricing.
If you or your loved one has just been found guilty at trial of a serious crime, your first thought may be, what’s next? Can we appeal the verdict?
With criminal appeals in Texas, it is important to move quickly, as you only have 30 days to notify the courts of your intent to appeal in state cases. In federal cases, there is even less time: only 14 days.
In this article, we’ll explain what exactly an appeal can do, as well as the general cost of a criminal appeal at Chris Perri Law. We understand that at this point in the legal process, families are often financially and emotionally drained. We do our best to make our fees fair, competitive, and, above all, transparent.
The fees mentioned in this article are price estimates. If you’d like a more precise quote, please reach out to our office to set up a free case consultation. During that initial meeting, our firm can provide a more exact fee specific to you or your loved one’s unique situation.
First Off, What Exactly Is a Criminal Appeal?
A criminal appeal is a legal procedure one can use to try to reverse a criminal conviction. On an appeal, your attorney is limited to raising issues related to the trial itself. For example, if a judge should’ve overruled an important objection but did not, this error could be raised on appeal. To learn more about appeals, click here.
If you feel there is new evidence for the courts to consider, then you would need to pursue a writ of habeas corpus, which is another legal avenue to overturn convictions. To learn more about writs of habeas corpus, click here.
If a defendant’s appeal is granted, then their conviction will be overturned. However, their arrest will not. Prosecutors may decide to retry the case, offer to renegotiate, or drop the charges altogether. In most circumstances, you’ll need to hire counsel – separate from your appellate attorney – to handle the renewed active case.
How Much Does a Criminal Appeal Cost?
While we aim to keep our appellate legal fee competitive with other lawyers, we also hope it reflects the knowledge, quality, and skill level of our firm. Our primary focus is helping people facing wrongful convictions, and thus we have extensive experience navigating post-conviction criminal law.
At Chris Perri Law, the legal fee for a criminal appeal is typically between $25,000 to $40,000, with most costing closer to $30,000. The price variation is dependent on a few factors, such as:
The length of the trial
Severity of the charge
Whether the case is state or federal.
Remember, during an initial consultation, we can provide a more exact price quote tailored to your case.
Are There Any Additional Costs Besides Legal Fees?
With appeals, the only additional cost would be for the purchase of the trial transcript. If hired, we handle obtaining the transcript, however you would need to provide the payment. Typically, transcripts cost around $1,000 per day of trial. So, if your loved one had a four-day trial, you can expect the total due to be around $4,000.
What If I Can’t Afford to Hire a Criminal Appellate Attorney?
The United States Constitution guarantees that everyone has the right to an appeal. If you cannot afford an appellate lawyer, then you can apply for a court-appointed one. This is essentially a public defender. If you are approved for court-appointed counsel, you will not be responsible for the cost of legal fees or the trial transcript. However, keep in mind that you will not get to pick your attorney or have as much say in the strategy. That said, most public defenders are competent advocates; in fact, Chris Perri takes on some federal court-appointed cases each year.
Why Chris Perri Law
When choosing an appellate attorney for yourself or your family, it’s essential to find someone who you feel is knowledgeable and trustworthy.
As an award-winning lawyer with nearly two decades of experience in post-conviction criminal defense, Chris Perri is passionate about helping those who’ve been wrongfully and unjustly convicted. Based in Austin, our firm has won appeals and writs of habeas corpus throughout the state of Texas. We handle federal and state-level cases.
If you or someone you care about has just been convicted of a crime, don’t delay. Call Chris Perri Law at (512)269-0260 or contact us here to schedule a free consultation today.