A criminal defense attorney’s main job is to assist you in decreasing or dismissing your criminal charges. He or she helps you at the pre-trial and trial phases. An individual can be charged with a crime that ranges from a misdemeanor to a felony with serious consequences. You have the right to legal representation when you have been charged with a crime, and a criminal defense attorney will help you.
Knowledge of State Laws
A criminal defense attorney understands the specific state laws for your crime. Perhaps you have been charged with battery or embezzlement. It is important for you to realize that the punishments for these crimes or elements needed to prove these crimes might be different from jurisdictions in other states. You should hire a criminal defense attorney from the state in which your trial is taking place, because he or she likely understands the state laws at issue in your case.
Handling Pre-Trial Procedures
If you have not yet been charged with a crime, then it is in your best interest to get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer. At the pre-trial phase, he or she can investigate your case and can help you handle interrogations or other forms of questioning from authorities. He or she can help you to avoid offering information that could be incriminating to you. A criminal defense lawyer may also negotiate plea bargain options with a prosecutor.
A great criminal defense lawyer will understand the proper procedures and evidentiary issues that can arise in a case. He or she uses this knowledge to challenge the procedures police officers used to arrest you or to challenge evidence that has been gathered in improper ways. Successfully challenging procedures used in your arrest at the pre-trial phase may ultimately mean that your charges are completely dismissed.
Handing the Trial Phase
A criminal defense lawyer will also help you with the trial phase. This means that he or she will argue your case before a judge and jury. The lawyer may also assist with choosing the jury members who will be sitting for your case. He or she will be responsible for providing the opening and closing statements in your case.
Criminal defense attorneys will also object to any improper questions that the prosecution asks. When an objection is sustained, this means that the jury will be instructed to exclude that information in making its final decision.
If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, contact LMW Attorneys and setup an appointment.