One potential reason that you can seek post-conviction relief is if you believe that your rights were violated by the government. If this happened during your trial, it may indicate that the trial was not fair or just. This could be an avenue for you to seek to have that conviction overturned.
For example, one of your fundamental rights is the right to a speedy trial. There are some cases where delays are necessary and cannot be avoided. But the government cannot unreasonably delay your trial. If it does, it may have violated your rights, which could form the basis of your post-conviction relief action.
The right to an attorney
Another fundamental right that you have is the right to legal counsel. Anyone who has been accused of a crime has a right to an attorney. They can choose to hire an attorney, or they can have one appointed to them during their case. But in both situations, they have legal counsel on their side and do not have to go through the trial on their own.
Now, people do have the option to waive their right to an attorney. Some people choose to represent themselves. But if you did not make this choice and were simply denied an attorney by the government, which then convicted you at trial, you may be able to seek post-conviction relief. You could claim that the conviction never would have happened if you had had an attorney during that trial.
These are just two examples of ways that the government may violate your rights as you go through the criminal justice process. It is very important to know exactly what steps you can take if you believe this has happened to you, and it can help to work with an experienced attorney.