A conviction at trial is not always the end. Courts make mistakes — in how they apply the law, admit evidence, or instruct a jury. When those mistakes happen in your case, you have the right to challenge them. Moran & Fisher, Attorneys at Law, LLC, has built one of the most substantial appellate practices among Cleveland criminal-defense firms, with more than 500 appeals written and argued across the Ohio Courts of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
That depth is rare. Most criminal-defense firms handle the occasional appeal. Moran & Fisher treats appellate and post-conviction work as a core discipline — not an afterthought. If you received an unfair verdict, were sentenced incorrectly, or believe your constitutional rights were violated at any point in your prosecution, an experienced appellate team is essential.
What Makes an Appellate Practice Different
Trial work and appellate work are distinct skills. At trial, a lawyer reads a jury, manages witnesses, and adapts in real time. On appeal, the record is fixed — the lawyer's job is to comb every transcript, every ruling, and every legal argument for the errors that matter, then build a written and oral case that persuades a panel of judges. Both require precision. Both require experience. Very few firms in northeastern Ohio do both at a high level. Moran & Fisher does.
Appeals & Post-Conviction Services
Moran & Fisher handles the full spectrum of appellate and post-conviction work for Ohio criminal cases:
- State Appeals — Ohio Courts of Appeals — Direct appeals challenging trial-court errors in evidentiary rulings, jury instructions, sentencing, and constitutional violations.
- Federal Appeals — U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit — Federal-court appeals and habeas corpus petitions for cases involving federal constitutional questions. The firm is admitted to practice before the Sixth Circuit.
- Post-Conviction Relief — Petitions for post-conviction relief under Ohio law, including newly discovered evidence, ineffective assistance of counsel claims, and Brady violations.
- Ohio Supreme Court — Discretionary appeals to the Supreme Court of Ohio on issues of statewide significance and constitutional magnitude.
The Record That Backs This Practice
More than 60 years of combined experience. More than 100 jury trials. More than 300 bench trials. And more than 500 cases written and argued in the Courts of Appeals. Those numbers mean that when Moran & Fisher takes an appeal, the firm is drawing on a deep reservoir of trial and appellate knowledge that most Cleveland defense attorneys simply do not have.
Attorney Susan Moran is a Life Member of the Eighth District Judicial Conference and a selected CJA panel attorney in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio — recognitions that speak to the confidence of the courts themselves in her work. The firm's Sixth Circuit admission allows Moran & Fisher to pursue federal relief for clients in appropriate cases, a capability that extends options well beyond what a state-only practice can offer.
We Pursue Every Available Avenue
Appeals are time-sensitive. In Ohio, most direct criminal appeals must be filed within 30 days of sentencing. Federal deadlines are equally strict. Missing a filing deadline can close off legal options permanently. If you believe your case was handled wrongfully — at any stage, from arrest through sentencing — the time to explore your options is now.
Moran & Fisher reviews cases from other attorneys, cases where a conviction may have rested on flawed evidence or faulty rulings, and cases where post-conviction circumstances have changed. Every review begins with a candid assessment of what the record shows.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.