Wisconsin Appeals and Post-Conviction Lawyers

An unfavorable verdict or sentence is not always the end of the road. Appellate and post-conviction work can offer a path to relief. But certain options can operate under strict deadlines. Appellate work demands a distinct skill set — it is about identifying legal error in the record, not retrying the facts.

At Strang Bradley, we handle appeals and post-conviction motions in Wisconsin state and federal courts, including before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. We review the record for the errors that can change an outcome.

Grounds for Appeal and Post-Conviction Relief

• Trial errors in the admission or exclusion of evidence
• Ineffective assistance of trial counsel
• Insufficient evidence to support the conviction
• Improper jury instructions or juror misconduct
• Prosecutorial misconduct
• Newly discovered evidence
• Sentencing errors and improper sentencing factors
• Constitutional violations affecting the trial or plea

Appeals vs. Post-Conviction Motions

A direct appeal asks a higher court to review the trial record for legal error. Post-conviction motions, by contrast, can raise issues that depend on facts outside the trial record — such as ineffective assistance of counsel or newly discovered evidence — and in Wisconsin these are often a necessary step before or alongside an appeal. Federal habeas corpus offers a further avenue in limited circumstances after state remedies are exhausted. Each path has its own rules and deadlines, and choosing the right one is part of the strategy.

How We Approach Appellate Work

• Obtaining and meticulously reviewing the trial record and transcripts
• Identifying the strongest legal issues for appeal or post-conviction relief
• Working closely with our client to ensure we know every fact, even those not in the record
• Writing persuasive briefs grounded in the record and the law
• Presenting oral argument before the appellate courts
• Pursuing post-conviction motions, including evidentiary hearings where warranted

Why Acting Quickly Matters

• Strict deadlines govern the right to appeal.
• Preserving the right to appeal often requires prompt filings even before issues are fully developed.
• The trial record must be obtained and reviewed before the strongest issues emerge.
• Delay can forfeit important rights permanently.
• Contact an appellate attorney as soon as possible after a conviction or adverse ruling.

Why Choose Strang Bradley for Your Appeal

We pride ourselves on writing. Appellate advocacy is a craft of its own — careful record review, sharp legal writing, and persuasive argument before judges rather than juries. Our attorneys handle appeals and post-conviction matters in state and federal court, including before the Seventh Circuit, and know how to find and present the issues that can change an outcome. When your liberty is on the line, the quality of the brief matters.