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Los Angeles Criminal Defense and Appeals Law Firm

Barhoma Law, P.C., is a California Criminal Appeals and Los Angeles Corporate firm. We are consistently featured as Criminal Appeals in California according to multiple agencies, such as American Association of Attorney Advocates, Justia, Esquire’d, Avvo, and more.

As post-conviction lawyers, we represent those wrongfully convicted in:

California Criminal Appeals: Direct Appeal

Direct appeals are among the strongest and best legal maneuvers post-conviction. First, Barhoma Law looks to determine whether you filed your Notice of Appeal timely. Failure to timely file a notice of appeal will result in an automatic loss of your appeal. Then, Barhoma Law orders and prepares the record. From there, we extensively go through the record and draft and file your opening brief. The prosecutor will have an opportunity to file their response. Once Barhoma Law receives the prosecutor’s brief, we then extensively review it, draft and file a reply brief. And then we prepare for oral arguments in the court of appeals. This process takes skill and tedious attention to detail. You can seek many great arguments on appeal to overturn your conviction, including the ineffective assistance of counsel, actual innocence, jury tampering issues, prosecutorial misconduct, and many more described in detail here.

California Criminal Appeals: Writ of Habeas Corpus

A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a Latin term which stands for “production of the body.” We represent defendants in bringing their Writ of Habeas Corpus if they are unjustly or wrongfully detained or incarcerated. This gives you a legal means to challenge the legal basis of your imprisonment, the duration and length of your imprison, or even the manner in which you are imprisoned.

We take full advantage of the fact that on Writ of Habeas Corpus, you are allowed to introduce new and additional evidence, which is among one of the most enticing items about the Writ of Habeas Corpus. With the ability to track down new evidence, new testimony, or even ineffective assistance of counsel argument, you can overturn your conviction using the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Consult with a Barhoma Law lawyer to determine your likelihood of success and whether you are eligible to bring a California or Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus.

California Criminal Appeals: Reduce Your Sentence (SB 1437, AB 2942, 1170(d)(1), and Commutation of Sentence)

Alternatively, at Barhoma Law, we review your record extensively to determine the best likelihood of success to reduce your sentence. We do this in a number of ways:

  • SB 1437 is a new law that passed in California that has changed the previous definition of “Felony Murder”. Previously prosecutors were able to attain multiple homicide convictions on multiple defendants even if they did not kill anyone. Now, under SB 1437, you can get resentenced, and get your murder conviction vacated, if you did not act with reckless indifference to human life and were not a major participant in leading to homicide. We have written a high-quality article about SB 1437 and highlighted our success under the PC 1170.95 here. As California Criminal Appeals lawyers, we are dedicated to maximizing your likelihood of success under any SB 1437 petitions.
  • Commutation of Sentence – is an application filed with the Governor’s Office where we seek to have your sentence commuted. For success, you generally want to have a positive history as an inmate. Further, the Governor is willing to commute sentences where an applicant displays rehabilitation and an ability to reintegrate into society. At Barhoma Law, we seek to maximize your likelihood of success by putting together a strong character package about you, striking an appeal with the Governor’s Office to enhance your chances of commutation. As a California Criminal Appeals Attorney, we always look to maximize your likelihood of success in pursuing Commutation of Sentence with the governor’s office.
Results and Reputation of Success

Barhoma Law has a strong reputation for success. Below is a brief highlight of recent notable successes:

Success in Criminal ArenaSuccess in CIvil Arena
  • 2023 Vacated Conviction (Penal Code 1172.6)
  • 2022 Resentencing (AB2942 and Penal Code 1171.1)
  • 2022 Vacated Conviction (Penal Code 1172.6)
  • 2022 Resentencing (SB 483 and Penal Code 1172.75)
  • 2019 Expunged 5 Drug Possession Charges
  • 2019 Vacated Conviction (SB1437 and PC 1170.95)
  • 2019 Vacated Conviction (SB1437 and PC 1170.95)
  • Represented international defendants in a $2,500,000 civil dispute.
  • Successfully defended a cemetery in a complete defense verdict by way of jury trial in a claim for fraud, unjust enrichment, deceit, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and more.
  • Litigated Interests of high stakes clients in wrongful death claim


Consult With Barhoma Law, P.C.

If you are seeking a California Criminal Appeals attorney, contact Barhoma Law today. You can call us for a free consultation at (213) 800-7664.

Meet the Team
Team Picture

Barhoma Law, P.C. is a dedicated Appellate and Post-Conviction team with a specific interest in overturning convictions, especially for those wrongfully convicted. Our criminal appellate team has deep knowledge of current laws and the rapidly changing laws and legislative trends. Our team includes lawyers, legal researchers, paralegals, staff members, and more, dedicated to handling your case promptly and efficiently.

The Barhoma Law, P.C. team review cases in search for the truth, our team of lawyers look for shortcomings made or may have been overlooked, and we advocate zealously for our clients.

If you or a loved one have been wrongfully convicted, or there are genuine issues regarding their conviction or sentence, reach out for a consultation with Barhoma Law, P.C. Let us analyze your case and help you strategize for the next steps in your case.

Notable Cases
ABC7 Publishes an Article About Attorney Matthew Barhoma and Barhoma Law, P.C.’s Work in Resentencing Client

ABC7 publishes an article covering California Criminal Appeals attorney, Matthew Barhoma’s work in a re-sentencing of his client pursuant to Penal Code 1170(d)(1) and AB 2942.

The article highlights a recent success for Barhoma Law, P.C., where the Firm successfully reduced a client’s sentence just mere 9 months after retaining the Firm. Our client, Mr. Earl Snoddy, spent the last 27-years behind bars for a crime he likely did not commit. The Firm filed a conviction integrity request. In addition, Mr. Snoddy, through his counsel, sought to recall and renegotiate on the sentence by submitting an AB 2942 / Penal Code § 1170(d)(1) petition.

Barhoma Law Successfully Spared Client from Life Without Parole (LWOP) Sentence; Governor Gavin Newsom Commutes Barhoma Law, P.C. Sentence

Another Barhoma Law, P.C. Client is spared from his sentence, when Governor Newsom granted his Application for Commutation of Sentence. His family and friends were elated to hear that the Barhoma Law, P.C. client was sparred from his Life Without the Possibility of Parole sentence. Barhoma Law, P.C. represented the client through the Clemency process, where we advocated for his rights before the Parole Board and the Supreme Court of California.

In granting the Application for Commutation of Sentence, Governor Newsom indicated the following about Barhoma Law, P.C.’s client:

SB 1437 Successful Case, 2019
SB 1437 Successful Case, 2019
Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus Gained Key Ruling
$2.5M Breach of Contract Claim Successfully Defended Against
Application for Commutation of Sentence Granted 2021
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Matthew is the most knowledgeable lawyer. I have worked with teams of lawyers and none of them were as knowledgeable and prompt as Matthew. I trust all of my company’s legal affairs with Matthew. He makes me rest easy knowing he is on it.” Michael
★★★★★
"Matthew is the epitome of hard work and dedication, when it comes to his work. Matthew has helped me with all my contractual work needed to help me launch my start up. Matthew is honest, diligent and relentless." Carol
★★★★★
"Matthew was very responsive and caring for my case. He handled my case with efficiency and made sure to secure exactly what we wanted. He has represented my company previously and when we needed a lawyer, it was no question – we phoned Matthew!" Tony
Los Angeles Criminal Defense and Appeals Lawyer Blog
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