The Spolin Post-Conviction Resource Center (SPCRC) was founded to strip away the legal jargon and provide a raw, honest look at how the post-conviction process actually works and why it so often fails. We serve as a comprehensive information hub for those navigating the complex world of criminal appeals, writs of habeas corpus, and other post-conviction work, including articles written by current and former attorneys as well as recommendations regarding attorneys and private investigators.
Our Mission: Information Without the Filter
The SPCRC is dedicated to three core pillars:
- Truth in Education: We provide deep-dive articles on criminal law topics, written by current and former attorneys who have seen the system from both sides.
- Direct Recommendations: Unlike the "pay-to-play" lawyer directories that dominate the internet, the SPCRC does not allow attorneys to buy their way onto our recommendation lists. We provide vetted recommendations for appellate attorneys and investigators based solely on their track record, their pricing, and our frank assessment of their abilities.
- Public Accountability: The criminal justice system is run by people (judges and prosecutors) whose decisions shape lives. The SPCRC aims to provide publicly available information regarding these officials to ensure that the public and defendants know exactly who is handling their cases.
About the Chief Editor
Aaron Spolin is the Chief Editor of the Spolin Post-Conviction Resource Center. A former prosecutor and a former award-winning criminal appeals attorney, Mr. Spolin now shares his experience from the inside. He is also the author of multiple books on criminal law topics.
Background & Philosophy
Mr. Spolin earned his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from U.C. Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), where he served as a member of the California Law Review.
He previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney and as an appellate attorney before starting SPCRC. Mr. Spolin is no stranger to the out-of-control nature of the government, having been a target of a campaign of court-appointed attorneys whose business and livelihood were impacted by Mr. Spolin's work. But he has not been silenced, and now, having seen the insides of the system, is unafraid to share what he knows.
Published Works
Mr. Spolin has authored several books and articles on criminal law and justice topics, including:
- Witness Misidentification in Criminal Trials (2020) – A deep dive into the leading cause of wrongful convictions in the United States. Purchase Book
- Fighting Federal Writs of Habeas Corpus (2022) – A "dos and don'ts" guide to navigating one of the most difficult and procedurally dense areas of law. Purchase Book
- Padilla and the End of the Collateral-Consequences Rule (2013) – An analysis of the constitutional requirements for counsel to advise defendants on the immigration consequences of criminal pleas.
- Criminal Appeals Exposed: How The Government Pays Court-Appointed Lawyers To Officially Give Up (Expected 2026) - A soon-to-be-published exposé on the state-sanctioned practice of filing Anders/Wende briefs, where court-appointed appeals lawyers publicly abandon their clients' cases while still getting paid by the state.
Start Learning
Visit our Learning Center to find out about every aspect of the criminal justice system as it relates to post-conviction and criminal appeals work, including guides, articles, reviews, recommendations, and a general hold-nothing-back approach to showing how the system really works.