Flint Criminal Appeals Attorney

Yes. Felony convictions from the Genesee County Circuit Court in Flint are appealable to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The standard deadline is 42 days from sentencing. Attorney Skinner can review your case, identify viable grounds for appeal, and file all necessary documents to initiate the process.

A motion for relief from judgment under Michigan Court Rule 6.500 — commonly called a 6.500 motion — is a post-conviction remedy filed in the trial court (Genesee County Circuit Court for Flint cases) after the direct appeal has been concluded. It allows defendants to raise issues that were not raised or were not adequately raised on direct appeal, including newly discovered evidence and ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. These motions have strict procedural requirements, and Attorney Skinner can advise whether one is appropriate for your situation.

Appellate practice is not tied to a specific courthouse location the way trial practice is. Attorney Skinner reviews the written trial court record — transcripts, exhibits, motions, and rulings — which is produced by the Genesee County Circuit Court and sent to him. He then researches the law, drafts appellate briefs, and argues the case before the Michigan Court of Appeals. Physical proximity to Flint is not required for this work.

Newly discovered evidence can support both a motion for new trial in the trial court and, if appropriate procedural steps have been followed, a motion for relief from judgment under MCR 6.500. The standard for relief based on newly discovered evidence is demanding — the evidence must not have been discoverable with due diligence before or during trial, and it must be material and likely to have produced a different verdict. Attorney Skinner can evaluate whether the evidence in your case meets that standard.

Yes. Flint is within the Eastern District of Michigan for federal court purposes. Attorney Skinner is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he handles federal criminal appeals and habeas corpus petitions for Flint area defendants who were convicted in federal court or who have exhausted state remedies after a Genesee County conviction.