A post-conviction proceeding is a proceeding provided for in state court that enables a defendant to challenge the constitutionality or legality of some aspect of the trial court proceeding. It is called a post-conviction proceeding because it occurs after the conviction and after the direct appeal process. In many states, it is a statutory, not a constitutional, right. There are generally time limits on when a defendant may file a state post-conviction proceeding.

• If an appellate court reverses a trial court, what happens next?
• What is the direct appeal?
• What is an appellate brief?
• What is the record?
• Is there a time limit on appeals?
• What are some commonly alleged errors in criminal trials?
• What further legal options are available to a person once convicted?
• What factors does a judge consider in determining sentencing?
• How does a judge determine whether sentencing is concurrent or consecutive?
• What is the difference between serving sentences concurrently or consecutively?
• What is time served?
• If a defendant is sentenced to three years, how much time will the defendant actually serve?
• What is a suspended sentence?
• Does it matter if a person has prior convictions?
• What happens after a person is convicted?
• If the jury convicts the defendant, what are the defendant’s options?
• Why are jury instructions important?
• Can the jury receive written copies of the judge’s instructions?
• What happens with the attorneys proposed jury instructions?
• Where do attorneys obtain proposed jury instructions?