Criminal Defense Case
Facing criminal charges can be one of the scariest times in our lives. Being charged with any type of crime, whether it's a DUI, shoplifting, burglary, possession of drugs or another criminal charge means there are serious consequences for a guilty verdict. It can be jail time, heavy fines, community service or loss of drivers license. It's important to be aware of your rights after a criminal arrest, and having a criminal defense lawyer on your side may just keep you out of jail.
Guide to Criminal Defense
If Arrested
Being arrested is one of the scariest experiences anyone will ever go through. Equally dramatic is the effect on loved ones of the person charged with a crime. Knowing your rights when arrested is important to ensure a good defense of the charge.
Dealing with Law Enforcement
After an Arrest
Before a Trial
All Criminal Defense Case Articles
Plea Bargains
The court system inundated with an overload of cases, jails are overcrowded past legal capacity, lengthy trials prove costly, and public defender re...
Rights at Arrest
Although often used as a collective term, being placed “under arrest” is a specific legal situation where an individual is no longer legally abl...
Preliminary Hearings
Shortly after an arrest, the prosecutor’s charges may face judicial review during the preliminary hearing. Each state has its own rules regardi...
Voir Dire and Jury Selection
The legal justifications for voir dire are to determine whether grounds exist for challenges for cause, and to obtain information for the exercise o...
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitness identification, which is by no means consistently reliable, has been used as one of main means of prosecuting evidence against the accuse...
Now that You're a Defendant
If you are arrested for a crime, this information will be forward to a prosecutor’s office in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. Once arr...
Criminal Arraignments
Criminal arraignments are a short hearing before a judge shortly following arrest. The criminal arraignment formally begins the courtroom proceedi...
Criminal Defense Case Strategies
A defense strategy in a criminal case is by and large the most important aspect of the case. If a defendant’s defense strategy isn’t strong enou...
Appealing a Criminal Conviction
A defendant can request an appeal at the conclusion of their trial in the event a guilty verdict is returned. In essence, an appeal is a request ...
Sentencing Once Found Guilty
Following a guilty or no contest plea, or a guilty verdict at trial, defendants will be sentenced, or receive their punishment, for their crimes. ...
Booking and Bail
Following arrest, suspects are taking to the police station in the jurisdiction of their arrest. Here, suspects will undergo the booking process,...
Evidence at Trial
During criminal trials, evidence rules restrict both the content of evidence presented and the manner that evidence can be presented during a trial....
Motions and Procedure at Trial
During judicial proceedings, both sides may make requests of the judge, known as “motions”. Motions may be made verbally or in written form, ...
Defense Rights at Trial
During every criminal trial, defendants enjoy a number of legal rights and protections, which have been in place since the ratification of the Cons...
Discovery in a Criminal Case
Discovery is the general process of a defendant obtaining information possessed by a prosecutor regarding the defendant’s case. In addition, pr...
Investigating a Charge Before Trial
Every competent legal defense is grounded in hard evidence, whether witness testimony, forensics, or even expert testimony. For a defendant and t...
Criminal Trial Process
Criminal trial procedures vary from courthouse to courthouse, and even more varied are the legal tactics employed during each phase of a criminal tr...
5 Myths about Criminal Cases
I do not have statistics on what percentage of people charged with crimes are actually guilty. Based on my conversations with people and my...
Stages of a Criminal Case
Criminal defense processes are difficult, confusing, and complicated. Knowing one’s legal rights is a huge factor in garnering a favorable outco...
Attorney Client Privilege
Sometimes, such as capital cases, a good relationship between an attorney and client is a matter of life and death. In many other instances, the co...
Evidence in a Criminal Trial
I am often asked by people facing criminal charges, what the prosecution has against them in terms of evidence. Evidence breaks down into two basic ar...
Choosing a Criminal Defense Attorney
Do some research when choosing a criminal defense lawyer. A criminal legal battle can be a long, arduous road and a lawyer’s ability to defend you...
Immigration and Criminal Charges
If you are not a United States citizen, and you are charged with a crime, the immigration consequences of a conviction could prove to be far more seve...
Domestic Violence: Falsely Accused
Each year, millions of women are physically abused by their partners. This is an epidemic that must be stopped. It is also true that while...
Drawn Out Cases
One of the most frustrating things about being a criminal defendant in New York, especially in New York City, is the amount...
Criminal Case Stages: Part 2
Following the first appearance following a complaint, an arraignment occurs. Generally, the arraignment occur twenty-fours following an arrest. ...
Police Cooperation
It is my belief that when the Police Officer says cooperate and we will help your case in the long run...you need to wait...
Ethics in Criminal Defense
The ethical standards regarding conflicts of interest with respect to current clients are contained in Supreme Court Rule 4-1.7, which provides...
Consulting with a Criminal Defense Attorney
When a person is charged with a felony or a misdemeanor, these individuals might be eligible to obtain a criminal defense attorney through the publi...
Bond and Bail Hearings
In criminal cases, bond and bail hearings are held in pre-trial proceedings to determine if the accused is at risk of fleeing a jurisdiction and ens...
Arrest Warrants
An arrest warrant must be signed by a judge or magistrate and must detail the offense charged. The accused must be named and described so they can b...