26 Sep Maryland’s Leopold is appealing a conviction to run for office

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Criminal Appeals on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

If one has been charged with a crime, if one is convicted, one’s criminal defense does not have to end upon sentencing. There are several legal actions from which one can choose to enact when one has been sentenced such as appealing a conviction. Maryland’s Anne Arundel County Executive Leopold is currently working with his criminal defense in hopes of appealing a conviction that he received so that he may run for office again.

Earlier this year, Leopold was tried and convicted for two counts of misconduct in office. The misconduct included directing employees to do personal tasks for him. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years of probation, and the judge declared that he was forbidden to run for office again.

Leopold’s criminal defense claims that the judge did not have the authority to ban Leopold from running for office again. His defense also claims that he was convicted on vague charges that should also be overturned. His appeal is expected to be heard in January.

Like in Leopold’s case, many who are convicted of crimes believe that they have been sentenced unfairly, and one way to try to correct this is to attempt to appeal. While appealing a conviction may not always be successful, it could be a good idea to consult with one’s criminal defense to look into appealing a conviction. Maryland professionals in criminal law are available to provide a solid criminal defense — before, during and after trial — and they can help one to decide what legal options to take after one has received an unfair conviction.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, Leopold seeks reversal of conviction, clearance to run for office, Pamela Wood, Sept. 23, 2013