The writ of habeas corpus is an incredibly powerful tool in criminal law, giving judges the power to overturn final convictions that were unlawfully obtained for a variety of reasons. However, obtaining habeas corpus relief is also exceptionally challenging. Between the strict procedural framework and complex substantive legal doctrines that govern petitions for writs of habeas corpus, successfully bringing a habeas petition requires a seasoned post-conviction lawyer. At Power Trial Lawyers Attorney Matthew Barhoma and his team of dedicated criminal appeals lawyers aggressively pursue habeas corpus relief for clients serving lengthy prison sentences. The firm’s strategic approach has earned the freedom of many clients.
As a general rule, once a defendant exhausts their appellate remedies, their conviction is final. However, a petition for writ of habeas corpus is a post-conviction remedy that grants a court the ability to essentially re-open a criminal case and grant a wide range of relief. Not surprisingly, due to the vast number of inmates in California seeking this type of relief, state lawmakers have enacted extremely strict procedural filing requirements. Thus, to succeed in bringing a habeas corpus claim, you must first establish that your claim is properly before the court and then prove the merits of your underlying claim.
In general, anyone can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging their conviction or sentence. However, a court only has the authority to hear a petition if each of the following is met:
If each of these is met, you are a proper party to bring a habeas petition. However, the next step in overcoming the procedural hurdles to relief relates to the timeliness of your petition. As a general rule, courts want you to bring your habeas corpus petition as quickly as possible. While there is no strict timeframe, a petition should be “filed as promptly as the circumstances of the case allow.”
Finally, courts typically only allow an inmate one petition for writ of habeas corpus (absent extenuating circumstances). If an inmate has already filed a petition which was rejected by the court, the inmate’s second petition will be considered “successive.” Courts only hear successive petitions in unusual situations, which means it is imperative to bring all issues in a first habeas petition.
If the court accepts your filing as timely and not procedurally barred, the next step is to prove that you are entitled to relief under state law. While there are many different claims one can raise in a petition for writ of habeas corpus, some of the most commonly litigated claims include the following:
Notably, certain issues cannot be heard in a petition for writ of habeas corpus. Most notably, these include alleged violations of the Fourth Amendment or challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence.
Of course, the strategy for successfully bringing a petition for writ of habeas corpus depends on the specific type of claim. In some cases where a post-conviction lawyer can make a strong case, the district attorney may agree to either provide the requested relief or some similar form of relief through an alternate procedural mechanism, such as an AB 2942 petition. It is important that your habeas corpus lawyer understands all potential avenues of relief to maximize your chances of success.
If you are incarcerated and recently learned that your direct appeal was unsuccessful, reach out to Power Trial Lawyers to discuss how to strategically bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus. At Power Trial Lawyers, we have extensive hands-on experience litigating petitions for writs of habeas corpus on behalf of inmates convicted of serious crimes. Over the past few years alone, we’ve successfully advocated for the reversal of several clients’ convictions. We have also obtained resentencing hearings for multiple clients, resulting in much shorter—often time-served—sentences. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with Attorney Barhoma today, call 213-800-7664. You can also reach us through our online contact form.