I was convicted of a felony in Mississippi. What will happen to me?

The State of Mississippi classifies felony crimes by the type of offense that was committed. The penalties can range from over a year in jail; life in prison, or the death penalty may be imposed for Capital murder. When an individual is charge with a felony, the State must impanel a Grand Jury who will hear testimony and examine evidence against the accused. If there is enough evidence to proceed to trial, the Grand Jury will return an indictment against the person. Upon being convicted of the crime, every individual has the legal right to file an appeal. Appealing a Mississippi felony conviction can be an extremely long and complex process.

Grounds for Appeal in Mississippi

The Supreme Court of Mississippi decides which cases will be assigned to the Mississippi Court of Appeals to be heard. An appeal is a request by the defendant that a higher court review their case, possibly resulting in overturning the verdict or granting them a new trial. The grounds for appeal may include:

• Trial Evidence—It is up to the judge to decide which evidence will be allowed during the trial and sometimes they disallow evidence that could have exonerated the defendant. If evidence was presented that was obtained by violating your constitutional rights, you can appeal your conviction all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
• Jury Instructions—When the judge issues instructions to the jury, he or she must follow strict rules. If you can prove that a mistake was made during the process, you may be granted an appeal of your case.
• Competence of Counsel—Your defense lawyer is responsible for knowing the laws and trial procedures. If your attorney failed to object to a motion or was incompetent in provide legal counsel, this may be grounds for an appeal.
• Jury Misconduct—The jurors must behave in a manner that is fair to all parties involved in the case. Accepting a bribe to find the defendant guilty is considered jury tampering and upon proof of this, the case can be dismissed.

Getting a Lawyer to Appeal Your Conviction

When you are facing a long prison term for a felony conviction, it’s best to seek legal counsel from a defense attorney who is skilled in the appeal process. Many criminal defense lawyers hire private investigators to come up with evidence that may be used as grounds for appeal. Sometimes they uncover new evidence that may result in obtaining a new trial.