Criminal Appeal

Texas Criminal Appeal – Post Conviction Relief

With a deep commitment to upholding justice, our criminal appeal lawyers offer unparalleled expertise in navigating the often-daunting appellate process.
Our post-conviction attorneys possess the unique distinction of being dedicated criminal appeal lawyers.

Texas State and Federal Criminal Appeal Attorneys

At Blizzard & Zimmerman, we don’t just ‘dabble’ in appeals. We are deeply engrossed in the study and practice of appellate law. There is a profound difference between general criminal defense lawyers who occasionally handle appeals and an attorney like Jacob Blizzard, who specializes and excels in this challenging field.
Attorney Jacob Blizzard stands out with a commendable achievement; he is one of only 77 of Texas attorneys board-certified in both Criminal Appeals and Criminal Defense by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This exclusive certification is a testament to his extensive knowledge, formidable experience, and the high professional stature bestowed upon a select group of legal practitioners.
Blizzard’s prominence is highlighted by his dual board-certification – both in Criminal Appeals and Criminal Law. This rare combination of credentials means that he carries the expertise not just to fight a case at trial but also to challenge and overturn convictions in higher courts, ensuring that the scales of justice remain balanced. Jacob is also one of 32 Texas attorneys certified in Criminal Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy – a credential that reflects the highest level of courtroom experience and expertise. He is also a Thompson-Reuters Super Lawyer®.
Attorney Sarah Durham heads up our post-conviction team, representing clients at both Texas State and U.S. Federal courts, adapting to the nuances of each legal jurisdiction. With recognition as an authority in the field of criminal appeals, Blizzard & Zimmerman Attorneys bring a level of insight and credibility that can be pivotal to your appellate case. Sarah is also a Thompson-Reuters Super Lawyer Texas Rising Star®.
Our systematic approach to legal research and the preparation of appellate briefs ensures that every argument is thoughtfully composed, meticulously researched, and compellingly presented to the court.
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Unlike hiring a criminal defense trial attorney, a quality criminal appeals attorney spends time researching the intricacies of the law, appellate procedure, and harm analysis on appeal.

Clients who have been convicted of a criminal offense face an uphill battle attempting to overturn the conviction.

It takes knowledge and experience like that of Blizzard and Zimmerman Attorneys to prepare briefs that convince an appellate court to overturn these convictions.

Clients who face this battle can have confidence in the skills and abilities of Jacob Blizzard, Matt Zimmerman, Sarah Durham, Morgan Walker, and Terry Reeeves when it comes to post conviction writs of habeas corpus. We’re proud to serve the greater Abilene, TX area and the state of Texas.

An individual who has been convicted of a crime may appeal their case once a verdict has been issued. This means that they will be asking a higher court to review certain aspects of the case to determine whether there was any legal error.

Confused About Appeals?

  • An appeal is not the same as asking for a new trial because you don’t like the outcome.

    Instead, it will determine whether the conviction or sentence was reached in error. The party who appeals the verdict must show the higher court that there were errors in how the original trial was conducted or how the verdict was reached.

No new evidence may be considered in a Texas criminal appeal case.

In Texas, criminal appeals are generally limited to the record that was created during the trial. This means that no new evidence may be considered during a criminal appeal case. There are several reasons for this rule:

  • Preservation of the trial court’s role: One of the primary reasons why new evidence is not allowed in a criminal appeal case is to preserve the role of the trial court. The trial court is responsible for making factual determinations based on the evidence presented during the trial. Allowing new evidence to be considered on appeal would essentially turn the appeals court into a new trial court, which would undermine the judicial process.
  • Finality of judgments: The rule against new evidence in appeal cases also serves to promote finality in the judicial system. Once a judgment has been entered by the trial court, it is important to provide a level of certainty and closure to the parties involved. Allowing new evidence to be introduced on appeal would make it difficult to achieve finality in criminal cases.
  • Appellate courts are limited to reviewing errors: Appellate courts are generally limited to reviewing legal errors that occurred during the trial court proceedings. They are not authorized to make new factual determinations or consider new evidence. Allowing new evidence to be introduced on appeal would require appellate courts to take on a role that is beyond their authority.

In summary, the rule against considering new evidence in a Texas criminal appeal case is designed to preserve the role of the trial court, and promote finality in the judicial system.

While it can take weeks and months for a criminal appeal to be heard and decided, the appellant (the defendant in the case) must notify the courts and government of their intent to appeal very soon after a conviction or sentence. An experienced attorney can guide you through this process.

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Attorney Jacob Blizzard is recognized by the State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization as a Criminal Law and Criminal Appeal specialist. He is also Capital Murder Appellate List Qualified, 7th Judicial Region of Texas.

Blizzard & Zimmerman attorneys handle state and federal criminal appeals and post conviction writs of habeas corpus, including
  • Direct appeal to the Court of Appeals of Texas
  • Petition for Discretionary Review to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • 11.07 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Direct Appeals to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Petitions for Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States
  • 2254 & 2255 Federal Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus
  • Actual Innocence Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus
  • Motion for Post Conviction DNA Testing
  • New Evidence Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

Blizzard & Zimmerman Attorneys are Criminal Appeal Lawyers.

Unlike criminal defense lawyers who dabble in criminal appeals on an as-needed basis, we daily research and prepare appellate briefs.

Unlike hiring a criminal defense trial attorney, a quality criminal appeals attorney spends time researching the intricacies of the law, appellate procedure, and harm analysis on appeal. Clients who have been convicted of a criminal offense face an uphill battle attempting to overturn the conviction.

It takes knowledge and experience like that of Blizzard & Zimmerman Attorneys to prepare briefs that convince an appellate court to overturn these convictions.

Clients who face this battle can have confidence in the skills and abilities of Jacob Blizzard, Sarah Durham, and Morgan Walker when it comes to post-conviction writs of habeas corpus. We’re proud to serve the greater Abilene, TX area and the state of Texas.

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Post Conviction Writ Attorneys Jacob Blizzard and Sarah Durham have written a free guide to the post conviction writ process.

The guide called “Winning Freedom from Prison: 5 Critical Things to Know to Pursue Overturning a Conviction” gives insight into the writ of habeas corpus process here in Texas.

In this guide, Jacob Blizzard, a Board Certified Criminal Appellate Attorney, discusses:

  • The best grounds.
  • The legal timelines.
  • Your options when pursuing relief.

Click here to get this FREE Guide

You can also contact our lawyers for further information about post conviction writs.

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