Forms provided here are for reference purposes. To download forms to fill out please visit the Minnesota Courts website.Rule 28 governs the procedure for appeals from the district courts to the Court of Appeals unless the defendant has been convicted of first-degree murder. This packet is provided as a general guide to the process of appealing from a district court order denying a postconviction petition. First, the defendant must demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient. Ineffective assistance of counsel that is, defendants believe their lawyer did such a poor job that it negatively affected the outcome of their case. If the court of appeals grants an appeal based on ineffective assistance of counsel, the court may vacate your conviction and grant a new trial. Discover Minnesota's ineffective assistance of counsel standards for a claim involving trial, appellate, or plea agreement counsel. Ineffective assistance of counsel is something that would be argued when filing postconviction relief. If you lose your criminal case, an incredibly popular issue on appeal is ineffective assistance of counsel.