Legal Question in Appeals and Writs in California

Re: Pro Bono Assistance for Appeal on Criminal matter

Criminal defendants convicted in California who cannot afford counsel are entitled to free representation on appeal, with an attorney appointed by the court. There are different offices around the state which handle these appointments; the specific office you need to contact will depend upon where the conviction was entered and upon whether it was in state or federal court. The easiest way to find out who you should contact is to call the clerk's office of the court where your friend was convicted.

The right to appointed counsel exists only for direct appeals and not for habeas corpus petitions, although sometimes counsel is appointed for those cases as well.

You should note that there are very firm deadlines for filing certain documents like the notice of appeal. Missing these deadlines can doom your friend's case, no matter how strong his arguments might be. If your friend has not already filed such a document it is critical to see to this ASAP.