CRIMINAL CASES

Williams Law Group, LLC. handles all phases of criminal defense in Pennsylvania state courts for adults and juveniles, including:


  • Preliminary Hearings
  • Suppression/Omnibus Pre-trial Hearings
  • Bench Trials
  • Jury Trials
  • Direct Appeal
  • PCRA


Additionally, our firm handles all phases of certain civil matters, specifically, Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus Petitions, Protective/Restraining Orders, and Writ of Mandamus actions.

State Trials


In Pennsylvania, every criminal prosecution begins at the Magisterial District Justice (or Municipal Court for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). The magistrate preliminarily arraigns the accused, sets bail, and presides over Preliminary Hearings to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support the charges brought against the accused. If the evidence is sufficient, the case is bound over to the county’s Court of Common Pleas for final disposition such as a guilty plea, bench trial, or jury trial. 

We provide representation at trial proceedings in defense against serious state criminal charges, including:


  • DUI
  • Theft
  • Child Endangerment
  • Firearm Offenses
  • Drug Offenses
  • Assault
  • Burglary
  • Robbery
  • Homicide


If your trial results in a conviction, Williams Law Group provides representation at Sentencing and the Post-Sentence Motion stages.


Direct Appeal


If you believe the Trial Court committed errors during your trial or post-sentence proceedings, you have a right to file a timely direct appeal to challenge your conviction and judgment of sentence. Williams Law Group provides representation for clients with meritorious claims on direct appeal in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure set forth an extremely strict timeline for when you can file your direct appeal.


Call our firm today at (717) 685-5750 before your time for filing your direct appeal runs out.

Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA)


The PCRA allows you to revisit your case after exhausting all other processes. Once the direct appeal process is complete, you have a right to file a timely PCRA petition to collaterally attack your conviction and judgment of sentence. Williams Law Group will reinvestigate your case and seek to raise issues that were missed, or not investigated, by your trial attorney or direct appeal attorney. The PCRA sets forth an extremely strict timeline for when you can file a PCRA petition. Call Williams Law Group today at (717) 685-5750 to speak with a PCRA attorney before your time for filing runs out.


CIVIL CASES

Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus


If the Pennsylvania state courts denied you relief at the direct appeal and PCRA stages, you have a right to file a timely Petition for Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus in federal court, if:

  • You are currently imprisoned due to a state court judgment of sentence, and
  • You claim your Federal Constitutional rights were violated at your State Trial, Direct Appeal, and/or PCRA proceeding. 

Protective/Restraining Orders


If you are a party (alleged victim or alleged abuser) in a Protection from Abuse (PFA) or Sexual Violence Protection (SVP) proceeding, you may elect to retain legal counsel to represent you at your Final Hearing or Violation Hearing.

 

Writ of Mandamus


When a Commonwealth state agency/department improperly enforces a civil penalty or improperly executes an administrative duty as it pertains to you and your underlying criminal conviction, it may be appropriate for you to file a Petition for Writ of Mandamus where you ask the Court to compel the Commonwealth agency/department to correct its misstep. For example, you would file a Petition for Writ of Mandamus if you believe PennDOT erroneously suspended your driver’s license, or if you believe your registration on the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law sex offender registry is unwarranted, or if you believe the Department of Corrections made a mistake when it calculated your minimum/maximum sentencing dates. 

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