Pennsylvania PCRA Lawyer & Post-Conviction Representation
State-Wide Litigation for PCRA Petitions in PA
The Post-Conviction Relief Act is one of the last chances a person has to fight their conviction. Once the deadline for filing a PCRA petition has passed, it is very difficult to get back into court. With so much on the line, it’s important to hire an experienced Pennsylvania post-conviction attorney.
Grounds for Post-Conviction Relief We Evaluate
Not every issue is something that can be pursued in a PCRA petition. While it’s important to fight, it’s also important to make sure that you aren’t wasting time or money by paying a lawyer to raise issues that don’t have any laws or facts to support them. An experienced PCRA lawyer will be able to tell you what issues you have and how strong they are.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
When your lawyer made a mistake in your case that led to a bad outcome and they didn’t have a good reason to do it, you may be able to get PCRA relief by arguing that you received ineffective assistance of counsel.
Newly Discovered Evidence
If there is new evidence that shows that you are innocent of the crime you were convicted of, you can raise a newly discovered evidence claim.
Unlawfully Induced Guilty Pleas
When a person is made to plead guilty because they were forced or they didn’t understand what they were doing, they can raise a claim under the PCRA.
Illegal Sentences
A person can get PCRA relief if they are serving an illegal sentence.
Direct Appeals vs. PCRA Petitions: Choosing the Right Strategy
Sometimes, there are times when a person should skip or end their direct appeal and go straight to a PCRA. This is a risky strategy that should only be used when 1.) there’s a claim that can’t be pursued on the direct appeal and 2.) the defendant doesn’t have time to wait to do the PCRA after the appeal is over. An experienced PCRA attorney will let you know if your case is one of the extremely rare cases where you should skip a direct appeal and go straight to a PCRA.
Why Choose Bickerton Legal Services for Your Post-Conviction Case?
Attorney Lea Bickerton has over 20 years of experience representing clients at every stage of the criminal justice system. With a strong background in research, writing, and trial advocacy, Attorney Bickerton uses her practical experience of how pleas and trials should go to help her tell her clients what issues can be successfully raised in a PCRA. With a home office in Pittsburgh, Attorney Bickerton has represented clients for PCRA petitions at the court of common pleas level and on appeal across the state.
Contact a Pennsylvania Post-Conviction Attorney Today
Remember that you only have one year to file a PCRA. Contact Attorney Lea Bickerton today to see if you are still eligible for PCRA relief.