Jacqueline M. Blessing
Attorney
Statewide post-conviction review
Post-Conviction Relief in New Hampshire
Runyon Law Office evaluates New Hampshire post-conviction questions that may depend on facts, prior proceedings, or legal issues beyond the scope of a direct appeal.
Deadlines and available procedures depend on the claim and case history. Request prompt review.
Post-conviction relief is related to criminal appeal work, but it is not 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 procedure or factual development, especially where the issue depends on information 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.
What Post-Conviction Relief Can Mean in New Hampshire
“Post-conviction relief” is a general description rather than one universal procedure. Depending on the claim and procedural history, review may involve a state petition for writ of habeas corpus, a motion for a new trial, litigation concerning ineffective assistance of counsel, or another form of post-decision relief. The proper procedure depends on the nature of the claim, the existing record, prior appeals, prior collateral proceedings, and applicable deadlines.
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 may require careful attention to the alleged deficient performance, the reason for the challenged act or omission, whether the concern depends on facts inside or outside the original record, and whether the issue had a legally meaningful effect.
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
Prior direct appeals, habeas petitions, motions for a new trial, and other collateral filings can affect what review remains available. 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 Appeal Assessment
We begin with a brief, no-charge conversation. If the matter appears appropriate for further review, the firm may offer a paid, limited assessment of the potential appeal or post-conviction issue. The scope and fee are stated in advance. The assessment may identify what additional records are needed, which procedure may warrant closer review, and what next step should be considered.
Work with the attorneys who handle this area
Jaran R. Blessing
Attorney
Appeal services
Criminal Appeals
A criminal appeal may affect a person's liberty, family, employment, and future. Runyon Law Office reviews New Hampshire convictions, sentences, preserved trial issues, and constitutional questions to determine whether a direct appeal or another form of post-conviction relief may be appropriate.
Statewide New Hampshire Appeals
Runyon Law Office represents clients in New Hampshire civil and criminal appeals and evaluates post-conviction claims. We provide prompt deadline review, careful record analysis, focused written advocacy, and candid advice about the strengths and limitations of an appeal.
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 appeal review
Talk with us about your appeal
We begin with a brief, no-charge conversation about deadlines and fit. If the matter appears appropriate for further review, we may offer a paid, limited assessment of the appeal before any full representation is discussed.