The attorneys at Pinix Law, LLC, have a proven record of success with criminal appellate litigation in Wisconsin and Illinois.
We have gotten convictions overturned, pleas withdrawn, sentences modified, and cases dismissed. We have extensive experience handling appeals, postconviction motions, and habeas corpus cases.
It's important to understand that even after conviction, there is a lot that can be done. An appeal, postconviction motion, or habeas proceeding might be the right choice for you. You can read more about each type of proceeding below.
We have gotten convictions overturned, pleas withdrawn, sentences modified, and cases dismissed. We have extensive experience handling appeals, postconviction motions, and habeas corpus cases.
It's important to understand that even after conviction, there is a lot that can be done. An appeal, postconviction motion, or habeas proceeding might be the right choice for you. You can read more about each type of proceeding below.
Direct Appeal
A direct appeal is an appeal by right that is guaranteed to all persons convicted of a crime. It is generally the first mode of attack for challenging a conviction and sentence.
Our representation during direct appeal includes our review of what previously occurred. During that review, we look for errors that might be grounds for relief. If any such errors occurred, then those can be challenged and a remedy sought by a direct appeal, such as plea withdrawal, a new trial, or a new sentencing hearing.
Our representation during direct appeal includes our review of what previously occurred. During that review, we look for errors that might be grounds for relief. If any such errors occurred, then those can be challenged and a remedy sought by a direct appeal, such as plea withdrawal, a new trial, or a new sentencing hearing.
Postconviction
Postconviction proceedings generally occur after an unsuccessful direct appeal. But, they are also common when no direct appeal has occurred and the time for one has run out.
As with a direct appeal, our representation involves fully reviewing what happened before we got involved, and then assessing what grounds might exist to obtain relief.
Commonly recognized postconviction grounds are newly discovered evidence, sentence modification, or ineffective assistance of direct appeal counsel. However, there are many other grounds that can stand as a viable basis to bring a postconviction motion.
As with a direct appeal, our representation involves fully reviewing what happened before we got involved, and then assessing what grounds might exist to obtain relief.
Commonly recognized postconviction grounds are newly discovered evidence, sentence modification, or ineffective assistance of direct appeal counsel. However, there are many other grounds that can stand as a viable basis to bring a postconviction motion.
Habeas
Persons convicted in state court have the right to seek a writ of habeas corpus from the federal courts on the ground that they are being held in custody in violation of the federal constitutional rights. Basically, habeas proceedings provide state court prisoners with another opportunity to challenge their conviction and sentence.
There are extremely challenging procedural rules associated with obtaining federal habeas relief. As with direct appeals and postconviction, our representation in habeas cases involves first assessing the viability of any potential claims, and then moving forward when we have identified meritorious issues.
There are extremely challenging procedural rules associated with obtaining federal habeas relief. As with direct appeals and postconviction, our representation in habeas cases involves first assessing the viability of any potential claims, and then moving forward when we have identified meritorious issues.
appellate court decisions
published decisions
The following is a list of published appellate court decisions in which at least one of our attorneys was involved as attorney of record.
State v. Geyser, 2020 WI App 58, 394 Wis. 2d 96, 949 N.W.2d 594
State v. Floyd, 2016 WI App 64, 371 Wis. 2d 404, 885 N.W.2d 156
State v. Salas Gayton, 2016 WI 58, 370 Wis. 2d 264, 882 N.W.2d 459
State v. Cameron, 2016 WI App 54, 370 Wis. 2d 661, 885 N.W.2d 611
Douglas v. Hayes, 2015 WI App 87, 365 Wis. 2d 497, 872 N.W.2d 152
State v. Sobonya, 2015 WI App 86, 365 Wis. 2d 559, 872 N.W.2d 134
State v. Kucharski, 2015 WI 64, 363 Wis. 2d 658, 866 N.W.2d 697
State v. Alexander, 2015 WI 6, 360 Wis. 2d 292, 858 N.W.2d 662
State v. Butler, 2014 WI App 4, 352 Wis. 2d 848, 844 N.W.2d 392
In re Jovan A., 2014 IL App (1st) 103835, 379 Ill. Dec. 432, 6 N.E.3d 760
People v. Radojcic, 2013 IL 114197, 376 Ill. Dec. 279, 998 N.E.2d 1212
State v. Brereton, 2013 WI 17, 345 Wis. 2d 563, 826 N.W.2d 369
State v. Brown, 2012 WI App 139,345 Wis. 2d 333, 824 N.W.2d 916
State v. Devries, 2012 WI App 119, 244 Wis. 2d 726, 824 N.W.2d 913
State v. Carroll, 2012 WI App 83, 343, Wis. 2d 509, 819 N.W.2d 343
People v. Salcedo, 2011 IL App (1st) 083148, 352 Ill. Dec. 596, 954 N. E.2d 679
State v. Harris, 2011 WI App 130, 337 Wis. 2d 222, 805 N.W.2d 386
State v. Brereton, 2011 WI App 127, 337 Wis. 2d 145, 804 N.W.2d 243
State v. Devries, 2011 WI App 78, 334 Wis. 2d 430, 801 N.W.2d 336
State v. Jackson, 2011 WI App 63, 333 Wis. 2d 665, 799 N.W.2d 461
People v. Smith, 406 Ill. App. 3d 879, 941 N.E.2d 975 (2010)
State v. Luebeck, 2006 WI App 87, 292 Wis. 2d 748, 715 N.W.2d 639
State v. Floyd, 2016 WI App 64, 371 Wis. 2d 404, 885 N.W.2d 156
State v. Salas Gayton, 2016 WI 58, 370 Wis. 2d 264, 882 N.W.2d 459
- Video of Matthew's oral argument on behalf of the amicus, ACLU-Wisconsin, et al., is available here.
State v. Cameron, 2016 WI App 54, 370 Wis. 2d 661, 885 N.W.2d 611
Douglas v. Hayes, 2015 WI App 87, 365 Wis. 2d 497, 872 N.W.2d 152
State v. Sobonya, 2015 WI App 86, 365 Wis. 2d 559, 872 N.W.2d 134
State v. Kucharski, 2015 WI 64, 363 Wis. 2d 658, 866 N.W.2d 697
- Video of Matthew's oral argument in Kucharski is available here.
State v. Alexander, 2015 WI 6, 360 Wis. 2d 292, 858 N.W.2d 662
- Video of Matthew's oral argument in Alexander is available here.
State v. Butler, 2014 WI App 4, 352 Wis. 2d 848, 844 N.W.2d 392
In re Jovan A., 2014 IL App (1st) 103835, 379 Ill. Dec. 432, 6 N.E.3d 760
People v. Radojcic, 2013 IL 114197, 376 Ill. Dec. 279, 998 N.E.2d 1212
State v. Brereton, 2013 WI 17, 345 Wis. 2d 563, 826 N.W.2d 369
State v. Brown, 2012 WI App 139,345 Wis. 2d 333, 824 N.W.2d 916
State v. Devries, 2012 WI App 119, 244 Wis. 2d 726, 824 N.W.2d 913
State v. Carroll, 2012 WI App 83, 343, Wis. 2d 509, 819 N.W.2d 343
People v. Salcedo, 2011 IL App (1st) 083148, 352 Ill. Dec. 596, 954 N. E.2d 679
State v. Harris, 2011 WI App 130, 337 Wis. 2d 222, 805 N.W.2d 386
State v. Brereton, 2011 WI App 127, 337 Wis. 2d 145, 804 N.W.2d 243
State v. Devries, 2011 WI App 78, 334 Wis. 2d 430, 801 N.W.2d 336
State v. Jackson, 2011 WI App 63, 333 Wis. 2d 665, 799 N.W.2d 461
People v. Smith, 406 Ill. App. 3d 879, 941 N.E.2d 975 (2010)
State v. Luebeck, 2006 WI App 87, 292 Wis. 2d 748, 715 N.W.2d 639