Top 3 Criminal Appeals Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta · Criminal Appeals Guide

DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026

Firm	Best for	Focus	Bar record	Fees	Rating
The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews, LLC	Best for one attorney handling your case directly from a state habeas petition through federal review	Direct appeal, state and federal habeas corpus	Ahmad R. Crews, Georgia 2017	Not published	4.7 · 88 Google
Weintraub & Alper Legal	Best for an appeal or federal 2255 motion where the founding attorney has actually worked inside a criminal appellate section	Federal and state criminal appeals, 2255 and habeas motions, general criminal defense	Howard J. Weintraub, Georgia 1975	Not published	4.6 · 116 Google
Farnsworth & Murphy, LLC	Best for a client who wants an appellate attorney with published, citable Georgia appellate wins	Criminal appeals, DUI and general criminal defense	Daniel F. Farnsworth, Georgia 2005	Not published	5.0 · 61 Google

What clients in Atlanta say: Across all three firms, the visible Google reviews are almost entirely about trial level work: a dismissal, a plea negotiation, a specific attorney who called back the same day. None of the reviews for any of the three firms mention a brief, an oral argument, or a habeas petition by name. That is not unusual for appellate practice, since a case can run a year or more before it resolves and a client may be writing from custody. Read the reviews for how the firm communicates, then ask separately who has actually argued in the Georgia Court of Appeals.

1. The Law Office of Ahmad R. Crews, LLCFeatured

A solo criminal defense practice that lists appeals and habeas corpus as one of its core pages rather than a single line buried in a broader menu. Attorney Ahmad R. Crews has practiced in Atlanta since 2017 and built the firm around direct client access: he is the one answering the phone, not a rotating associate. If you want a single point of contact through a state habeas petition, a federal habeas petition, or a direct appeal, that structure is the appeal of an Atlanta appeals and habeas corpus attorney working solo rather than at a larger firm.

2. Weintraub & Alper Legal

Weintraub & Alper Legal is led by Howard J. Weintraub, who spent three years as a federal prosecutor in the Appellate Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in Washington before seven years as an Assistant US Attorney in Atlanta and 40 years since in private practice. That is a specific credential none of the other firms on this page can point to: appellate work from inside the government before doing it for the defense. Partner Benjamin B. Alper, admitted in 2009, previously litigated for the US Attorney’s Office and the Georgia Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Division.

What to check before hiring a Criminal Appeals Lawyer in Atlanta

Criminal Appeals Lawyers in Atlanta: frequently asked questions

How long do I have to appeal a criminal conviction in Georgia?

The notice of appeal is due within 30 days of the trial court’s judgment or sentencing order under OCGA 5-6-38. Missing that window generally forfeits the right to a direct appeal unless the trial court grants an out of time appeal, which requires showing the delay was not your fault, often because trial counsel failed to file on time.

What does it cost to file a criminal appeal in Georgia?

The court filing fee is $80 for a direct appeal or application to appeal in a criminal case, and the same $80 applies to a state habeas corpus case, under OCGA 5-6-4. That fee is waived for an incarcerated appellant or anyone who files a pauper’s affidavit. It does not include what an attorney charges to handle the appeal itself, which none of the firms on this page publish as a set figure.

What is the difference between an appeal and a habeas corpus petition?

A direct appeal challenges legal errors that appear in the existing trial record and must be filed within 30 days of judgment. A habeas corpus petition can raise constitutional violations using evidence outside that record and follows a much longer four year deadline for a felony conviction under OCGA 9-14-42(c). Georgia’s state habeas petitions are filed in the superior court of the county where the person is incarcerated, not in the appellate courts.

How long does a criminal appeal take in Georgia?

Once a direct appeal is docketed, the appellant’s brief is due within 20 days and the case is decided on the briefs unless the court grants oral argument. Firms on this page describe the full process, from notice of appeal to a written decision, as commonly taking several months to close to a year, longer if the case is remanded.

What happens if I cannot afford a private appellate attorney?

The Georgia Public Defender Council’s Appellate Division represents indigent defendants on direct appeal statewide at no cost. Eligibility generally follows the same standard used for a trial-level public defender: income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, or proof of public assistance or unemployment. Raise appointed appellate counsel with the trial court before signing with a private firm if cost is the barrier.

What are common grounds for a successful criminal appeal in Georgia?

The firms on this page point to the same recurring categories: a trial judge’s error in admitting or excluding evidence, incorrect jury instructions, insufficient evidence to support the verdict, and ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Whether any of those grounds actually applies to your case depends on what is in the trial record, which is why an attorney reads the full transcript before advising on an appeal’s chances.