Words cannot express how grateful I am to you...
- Wendy C. 
Orange County Criminal Appeals Attorneys 
Appeals
Judges, juries and prosecutors make mistakes like everyone else. Unfortunately, when a mistake is made in a criminal case, the results can be very serious: A wrong conviction, a violation of your rights, justice not served. If you feel justice was not done at your trial, you have the right to file an appeal, which asks a higher court to reconsider the decision. This appeals court will review your trial for legal and factual mistakes, misconduct and other errors that could overturn your conviction.
As former prosecutors, the attorneys of Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP have experience that could be invaluable to a criminal appeal. Our Orange County expungement lawyers and Orange County criminal appeals attorneys understand how prosecutors and police officers build cases -- and what mistakes they make that could set you free. We will look through your trial transcript and other documents to look for mistakes in collecting and using evidence, violations of your legal rights, incorrect instructions from a judge, misconduct or other grounds for appeal. If a court agrees, your conviction could be overturned and you may get a new trial -- a chance to get it right.
If your conviction happened long ago and you just want to clean up your record, California law gives you several ways to start fresh. Most people can ask for a dismissal, which is when the court changes the record to show you were never convicted; you can then tell private employers that you were never convicted of a crime. You're eligible for a dismissal if you never went to state prison and were not convicted of certain sex or vehicle crimes. If you're not eligible, you can get a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is a declaration from the court that you've been rehabilitated; if granted, it automatically becomes an application for a governor's pardon. If you have a juvenile record, you can also ask for it to be sealed and eventually destroyed (this does not happen automatically).
Unfortunately, all of these ways of cleaning up a criminal record are complicated. You must meet certain requirements and may have to file several different sets of paperwork, depending on whether and how you served your time. Your request could be denied if you make a mistake or miss a deadline. Don't risk it -- call Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP for help. Our attorneys can help you get the information you need, file the paperwork and get on with your life.
Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP is a Orange County criminal defense law firm with a unique edge: Every one of our partners is a former Deputy District Attorney, and each one has additional qualifications that puts us head and shoulders above other criminal defense firms. Attorney Paul Takakjian is a State Bar-certified criminal law specialist and attorney Steve Sitkoff is a former Superior Court Commissioner. Our experience on the other side of the table gives us an intimate knowledge of how law enforcement and prosecutors build cases -- knowledge that gives your defense a winning edge. We know the judges and prosecutors in Orange County, and we know where to look for errors and omissions in your case that can set you free. That knowledge is reflected in our record of successes, which includes dropped charges, reduced charges and reduced penalties for many clients.
A criminal conviction can follow you for the rest of your life, limiting your opportunities and reminding you of mistakes long after you've changed your ways. But it doesn't have to. If you;re interested in appealing a criminal conviction or cleaning up your record, call the California criminal appeals lawyers at Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP.
Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP has an outstanding reputation for getting our clients superior results using the expertise, experience, and knowledge of our CA criminal appeals attorneys and staff. We offer reasonable fees and have offices conveniently located throughout California.
