John S. Koehler

Effective November 1, 2022, the Virginia Appellate Lawyer website and email will not be maintained or monitored and will cease operations after November 30, 2022. Existing clients of John S. Koehler. P.C. may contact Mr. Koehler at this email: [email protected]. Mr. Koehler is no longer accepting new clients except by referral from other attorneys and then only on a very limited basis. The Virginia Appellate Lawyer’s Court of Appeals Blog will be transferred to the jamessteelelaw.com website in the coming weeks.

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An Appeal After A Criminal Trial Verdict Seeks A Second Chance

If you were convicted of a crime and now face harsh penalties and a damaging criminal record, you and your defense lawyer may look for a path to a better outcome. Filing an appeal may seem to be the obvious first recourse. Does your criminal verdict offer a path to an appeal?

A criminal case outcome may be appealed on the basis of one of the following factors:

  • The lower court misinterpreted the law.
  • The evidence presented did not justify the verdict.
  • The judge in the lower court abused their discretion, resulting in a ruling that was unreasonable or erroneous and was not supported by the facts or the law.
  • The defendant claims to have received ineffective legal counsel.

A careful examination by an experienced appellate law attorney may reveal the answer. I am John S. Koehler, a knowledgeable and respected lawyer handling appeals in Virginia. I am well-qualified to review your case to determine whether an appeal is a clear option.

Criminal Appeals

With 27 years of experience as a clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia, I assisted with appellate cases covering a wide range of civil and criminal matters. I am well-prepared to consider and file appeals for criminal convictions, including the following:

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI)
  • Serious traffic violations, such as reckless driving resulting in manslaughter.
  • Theft, including robbery, burglary and white collar crimes
  • Violent crimes, including assault and battery
  • Drug crimes

If I find reasons to appeal your conviction, I will conduct in-depth research to help me write a compelling appeal to bring on your behalf. I may find that the sentence did not match the crime or that your federal constitutional rights were violated. Even if an appeal does not seem justifiable in your case, I may be able to help you petition the appellate court for a writ of habeas corpus  The habeas corpus may ask the appellate court to consider evidence that the original trial judge did not have access to.

Consider All Legal Options After A Criminal Conviction

As an experienced, diligent appellate attorney, I am prepared to help you consider all the ways by which you can seek to overcome a conviction for a crime or a civil verdict.