Jaran R. Blessing
Attorney
Post-Conviction Relief in New Hampshire
We help review New Hampshire post-conviction issues, including ineffective assistance of counsel and other constitutional concerns.
Post-conviction relief is part of criminal appellate work, but it is not always the same thing as a direct appeal. A direct appeal usually focuses on the existing trial court record. A post-conviction matter may require a different kind of review, especially where the issue depends on facts outside that record.
Common post-conviction questions may involve ineffective assistance of counsel, plea-related issues, sentencing issues, newly discovered information, or other constitutional concerns. The details matter, and the correct path depends on timing, the prior proceedings, the available record, and what has already been raised.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
People often use the phrase "ineffective assistance" broadly, but not every disagreement with a prior lawyer's strategy becomes a viable claim. The review usually requires a careful look at what counsel did or did not do, why it mattered, and whether the issue affected the reliability or fairness of the proceeding.
That kind of review may require more than the judgment or sentencing order. Plea paperwork, transcripts, motions, discovery issues, correspondence, and trial or sentencing materials may all be important.
When Post-Conviction Relief May Be the Right Question
Post-conviction relief may need to be considered when:
- the direct appeal deadline has passed or the direct appeal does not address the concern
- the issue depends on facts outside the trial record
- the concern involves advice about a plea, investigation, witnesses, objections, sentencing, or trial preparation
- a family member is trying to understand whether something legally meaningful went wrong
This page is general information only. Post-conviction matters can be procedurally complicated, and deadlines or prior filings may affect what is available. If you believe post-conviction review may be needed, contact an attorney promptly.
Preliminary Record Review
We begin with a free appellate screening call. If the matter appears potentially viable, we may offer a flat-fee preliminary record review, often starting at $250. That review typically results in a short written assessment explaining whether a potentially viable issue appears to exist, what additional materials may be needed, and what next steps should be considered.
Work with the attorneys who handle this area
Jacqueline M. Blessing
Attorney
Related services
Criminal Appeals
We help people and families understand whether a New Hampshire criminal appeal or post-conviction matter may warrant further review.
Appeals
When a judgment, conviction, sentence, or important order needs appellate review, Runyon Law Office can help evaluate whether an appeal may make sense.
Common questions
Practical answers to common questions
What is post-conviction relief?
Post-conviction relief is a way to seek review of certain criminal conviction or sentence issues after the ordinary trial or direct appeal stage. It may be relevant when the issue cannot be resolved from the direct appeal record alone.
In New Hampshire matters, post-conviction questions can be procedurally complicated. A lawyer will usually need to review the conviction, sentence, docket, prior filings, and the specific concern before advising whether a post-conviction path may make sense.
What is ineffective assistance of counsel?
Ineffective assistance of counsel is a legal claim that prior counsel's performance was constitutionally inadequate and affected the case in a legally significant way. It is not the same as simply disagreeing with a lawyer's strategy or being unhappy with the result.
These claims often require careful review of what counsel did, what counsel did not do, what information was available, and whether the issue mattered to the outcome. They may require records beyond the direct appeal file.
Can post-conviction relief help if the appeal deadline has passed?
Sometimes the correct question after a missed or completed appeal is whether post-conviction relief may be available. But post-conviction relief is not a substitute for every missed appeal, and prior filings or deadlines can affect what options remain.
If the direct appeal deadline may have passed, gather the sentencing paperwork, docket entries, and any correspondence about appeal rights. A Post-Conviction Relief review can help determine what questions need to be asked next.
What should I bring to a post-conviction consultation?
Bring the conviction and sentencing paperwork, docket entries, plea documents if there was a plea, trial or sentencing transcripts if available, motions, orders, appeal paperwork, and any correspondence with prior counsel about the issue.
It is also helpful to prepare a short timeline of what happened, including dates for plea, trial, sentencing, appeal, and any later motions. The timeline does not need to be perfect; it gives the attorney a starting point.
What does a preliminary post-conviction assessment include?
A preliminary assessment usually identifies whether the materials reviewed suggest a potentially viable post-conviction issue, whether more documents or transcripts are needed, and what next steps should be considered.
If a potentially viable issue appears to exist, Runyon Law Office will say so. If the record is incomplete or the issue does not appear promising, the assessment will say that directly and respectfully.
More questions about this area
We keep a broader set of practical questions organized by practice area, including post-conviction relief.
Statewide appellate review
Want to know whether appellate review may make sense?
We begin with a free screening call. If the matter appears potentially viable, we may offer a flat-fee preliminary record review and a short written assessment before any full appellate representation is quoted.