Types of Post-Trial Relief Ms. Williams Handles
Motion to Reconsider Sentence
If your sentence was excessive or failed to account for important mitigating factors, a motion to reconsider asks the trial court to review and potentially reduce the sentence. Ms. Williams prepares these motions with the same thoroughness she brings to every case—presenting compelling arguments about your circumstances, your rehabilitation, and why a different sentence is warranted.
Motion for New Trial
If errors occurred during your trial that affected the outcome—newly discovered evidence, legal mistakes by the court, procedural violations, or other issues—a motion for new trial asks the court to set aside the verdict and start fresh. Ms. Williams reviews trial transcripts, evidence, and procedures to identify grounds for this relief.
Direct Appeals
When legal errors at the trial level warrant review by a higher court, Ms. Williams handles direct appeals to the Illinois Appellate Court. She identifies and argues legal issues that may have affected your conviction or sentence, including evidentiary rulings, jury instructions, and constitutional violations.
Ineffective Assistance Claims
If your previous attorney failed to provide competent representation—missing critical deadlines, failing to investigate defenses, not calling important witnesses, or other serious deficiencies—you may have grounds for relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel.
What Illinois Law Says About a Motion to Reconsider
People searching for a "motion to reconsider" in Illinois usually mean one of three different filings. Each has its own statute or court rule. Each carries a 30-day deadline — but the clock starts at a different moment for each one, and missing the wrong one can close the door to an appeal.
Motion to reduce sentence — 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(d)
The Unified Code of Corrections gives a defendant 30 days from the day sentence is imposed to file a written motion with the circuit court clerk challenging the sentence or any part of the sentencing hearing. A motion filed after that window is not timely. The same subsection sets two further rules: the court may not increase a sentence once it has been imposed, and a timely motion pauses finality — for appeal purposes, the judgment is not final until the court rules on the motion.
Motion for new trial — 725 ILCS 5/116-1
Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, a written motion for a new trial must be filed within 30 days after the verdict or the finding of guilt — not after sentencing. The motion must state its grounds in writing, and the State must receive reasonable notice of it.
After a guilty plea — Illinois Supreme Court Rule 604(d)
A conviction entered on a guilty plea follows a different rule. Before any appeal can be taken, the defendant must file in the trial court, within 30 days of sentencing, either a motion to reconsider the sentence (if only the sentence is being challenged) or a motion to withdraw the plea and vacate the judgment (if the plea itself is being challenged). Where the plea was negotiated, a challenge to the sentence must be brought as a motion to withdraw the plea. Any issue not raised in that motion is treated as waived on appeal.
Notice of appeal — Illinois Supreme Court Rule 606(b)
A notice of appeal must be filed with the circuit court clerk within 30 days after the final judgment — or, if a timely post-judgment motion was filed, within 30 days after the order deciding that motion. This is why the sequence matters: a timely motion to reconsider is decided first, and the appeal clock runs from that ruling.
| Filing |
Authority |
Deadline |
Clock starts |
| Motion to reduce sentence |
730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(d) |
30 days |
Day sentence is imposed |
| Motion for new trial |
725 ILCS 5/116-1 |
30 days |
Verdict or finding of guilt |
| Post-plea motion (reconsider or withdraw) |
Ill. S. Ct. R. 604(d) |
30 days |
Day sentence is imposed |
| Notice of appeal |
Ill. S. Ct. R. 606(b) |
30 days |
Final judgment, or the order deciding a timely post-judgment motion |
These filings are made in the circuit court of the county where the case was heard — Peoria, McLean, Tazewell, LaSalle, Macon, or any of the other counties Ms. Williams serves. A direct appeal from a Central Illinois circuit court goes to the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District.
The motion itself — deadline, grounds, what the judge can and cannot change, and the plea-case rule — is covered step by step on the motion to reconsider sentence page.
How Ms. Williams Approaches Sentence Review Cases
Ms. Williams brings the same four principles to sentence review that guide all of her work: listening, preparing, protecting, and caring.
She begins by listening to your account of what happened at trial and sentencing. She wants to understand not just the legal facts, but your perspective on what went wrong and why you believe your case deserves another look.
Then she prepares. She reviews trial transcripts, sentencing records, the original evidence, and any new information that has come to light. She researches applicable law and identifies every legitimate ground for relief. She builds the strongest possible argument for why the court should reconsider.
In court, she protects your interests with the same aggressive advocacy she brings to every case. She presents your motion clearly and persuasively, supports every argument with evidence and legal authority, and fights for the outcome your case warrants.
And throughout the process, she cares enough to keep you informed at every stage. She explains what is happening, what to expect, and what your realistic options are. She does not give false hope, but she also does not give up when she believes your case has merit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sentence Review
What is a motion to reconsider sentence?
A motion to reconsider sentence asks the trial court to review a sentence that has already been imposed and potentially reduce it. The motion can argue that the sentence was excessive, that mitigating factors were not properly considered during sentencing, or that circumstances have changed since the sentence was imposed. This motion must typically be filed within 30 days of the sentencing date.
What is a motion for a new trial?
A motion for a new trial asks the court to set aside a guilty verdict and order a new trial. Grounds for this motion can include newly discovered evidence that was not available at the time of trial, legal errors by the court during proceedings, prosecutorial misconduct, or other issues that affected the fairness of the original trial.
How long do I have to file?
Time limits for post-trial motions are strict. A motion to reconsider sentence must generally be filed within 30 days of sentencing. A motion for new trial also has specific deadlines depending on the grounds asserted. If you are considering any form of post-trial relief, contact Ms. Williams immediately—these deadlines cannot be extended once they pass.
Can a sentence actually be reduced after it has been imposed?
Yes. Through a timely and well-prepared motion to reconsider, the court has the authority to modify a sentence. Success depends on the specific facts and circumstances, but courts do grant these motions when presented with compelling arguments. Ms. Williams will give you an honest assessment of your case during your consultation.
What is the difference between a motion to reconsider and an appeal?
A motion to reconsider sentence is filed in the same trial court that imposed the sentence. An appeal is filed in a higher court (the Appellate Court) and asks that court to review whether legal errors occurred at the trial level. They have different procedural requirements, different timelines, and address different types of issues. Ms. Williams can advise you on which approach is appropriate for your situation.
Does filing a motion to reconsider sentence delay the appeal deadline?
Yes. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(d), when a motion to reduce sentence is filed on time, the judgment is not considered final for appeal purposes until the court enters an order deciding it. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 606(b) then allows 30 days from that order to file the notice of appeal. A motion filed late does not have this effect.
Can the judge increase my sentence if I file a motion to reconsider?
No. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(d) states that the court may not increase a sentence once it has been imposed. A motion to reduce sentence asks the court to review the sentence downward; the statute does not permit the court to raise it in response.
