Many individuals convicted of criminal offenses after taking a case to trial reject the court’s decision. They believe that their conviction was a legal mistake. Occasionally, convicted defendants hope to appeal the initial criminal court ruling.
However, they need to have viable grounds for requesting an appeal. One of the scenarios that may give a defendant reason to appeal is information about a conflict of interest that may have compromised the validity of the initial trial. A conflict of interest involves a scenario in which a party who should have a particular perspective, such as neutrality, has outside factors influencing their conduct.
When can a potential conflict of interest provide a justification for a convicted defendant to appeal?
When it impacted their legal representation
A lawyer has specific legal obligations to their clients. They are bound by one of the highest levels of duty imposed under the law. Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to their clients. In plain English, they must put a client’s best interests before their own wishes.
An attorney who has a pre-existing relationship with someone else involved in a criminal case or a family history involving a similar crime may not necessarily provide the advocacy, guidance and support that a defendant requires. In scenarios where a conflict of interest involving a lawyer comes to light after an unsuccessful trial, that could give the defendant grounds to appeal.
When it affected the fairness of the trial
Several parties need to be truly neutral for a criminal trial to be fair. Obviously, the prosecutor and the defense attorney invest a lot of effort into looking for jurors who do not have conflicts of interest. Some people lie or misrepresent their circumstances to secure a position on a jury.
The judge overseeing the trial also needs to disclose potential conflicts of interest. In many cases, judges have to make the difficult decision to recuse themselves and seek a different judge to oversee the case because they simply cannot remain neutral.
When conflicts of interest come to light after the end of a trial, they can help explain why a defendant has experienced an unfavorable outcome. Seeking post-conviction relief on the basis of an unfair trial due to a conflict of interest might be an option. Reviewing what happened at the trial and the nature of the conflict of interest with a skilled legal team can help a defendant explore their options after a surprise conviction.