That said, I still handle a variety of other criminal cases, including, for example, drug cases, theft cases, and robbery cases. If you look at the case results section of my website, you’ll see that I’ve gotten good results for my clients in these cases as well. Call Now For A Free Consultation. (713) 936-4521. Get Help Now.
Jun 15, 2020 · Here are 5 reasons how you would benefit from hiring a criminal lawyer. Criminal Lawyers Have Dealt with Cases Similar to Yours. Good criminal lawyers are experts in criminal law. They have studied and practiced criminal law for several years. Needless to say, having someone with the knowledge of criminal defense law and some experience in ...
Also, in Breaking Bad the criminals are the protagonists of the series. While The Wire definitely shows both the criminal and police perspective, overall you're routing for the police to win, so the lawyer comes off as more of an asshole as he's getting in the way of that. But yeah, Saul's funny as hell and slicker than snot so he's much more ...
There are situations where waiving a preliminary hearing makes strategic sense but this is only after a careful evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of going forward with it. If your criminal defense lawyer is advising you to move forward with the hearing his or strategies should focus on the following 3 points: 1. Collect information
Another reason that lawyers can defend people regardless of guilt is that our society gives each citizen the right to be vigorously defended in a court of law. The U.S. Constitution assures every citizen due process and the right to legal counsel. Lawyers are bound to deliver this legal right to their clients.
Hiring a lawyer does not make you look guilty; it makes you look serious about your innocence, reputation, and future. You cannot be arrested or convicted for looking guilty. You can be charged and convicted if there is sufficient evidence against you.May 30, 2019
No likelihood of success. Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The rights of the accused include the right to a fair trial; due process; and the right to privacy.
You Have a Right to a Lawyer Whenever You Speak to Police If the police do not cease questioning after you have asked for a lawyer, then any information they receive will not be admissible in court.Oct 4, 2016
It is true that if you get a criminal defense lawyer before charges have even been filed, it may make the police look at you a little closer. Yet, that doesn't mean they will completely shift their focus to you instead of others.
A prosecutor may drop a criminal charge if it is determined that the evidence against the accused isn't strong enough. Or, perhaps new evidence is found which undercuts the prosecution's case against the defendant.
There are ways to have charges against an accused or defendant dropped even before the trial date. The typical action is to file a motion to dismiss. The defendant's lawyer can invoke various reasons for a motion to dismiss.Feb 2, 2022
There are several ways for criminal defendants to convince a prosecutor to drop their charges. They can present exculpatory evidence, complete a pretrial diversion program, agree to testify against another defendant, take a plea deal, or show that their rights were violated by the police.Jul 14, 2021
A criminal accusation is not in itself enough to put you on trial for a crime. Instead, the prosecutor must first present evidence to a grand jury, which then decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is assumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty. As such, a prosecutor is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person committed the crime if that person is to be convicted.
The Sixth Amendment provides that a person accused of a crime has the right to confront a witness against him or her in a criminal action. This includes the right to be present at the trial (which is guaranteed by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 43).
“If you want to improve your chances of securing the best lawyer to take your case, you need to prepare before you meet them,” advises attorney Stephen Babcock. “Get your story, facts, and proof together well before your first meeting.” This not only ensures that you understand your own needs, but it helps a good lawyer to ascertain whether he or she can actually help you. “We want the best clients too. Proving you’re organized and reliable helps us.”
“ Winning cases can be lost because of a client who lies or exaggerates just as easily as because of a lawyer who tells the client what the client wants to hear instead of what is true.” So when dealing with attorneys, don’t just look for honesty—be honest.
When hiring an attorney, a potential money pit is “expenses” outside of the lawyer’s billable hours. Expenses include everything—copying and faxing costs, hiring expert witnesses, and even traveling via private jet, points out attorney Justin C. Roberts. Some lawyers don’t just pass the charges along; instead, they charge an additional percentage fee. Whatever their method, you need to know it up front so there won’t be any surprises when the bill arrives.
“In my experience, a good lawyer always finds every opportunity to keep a case from being decided by a judge, and only relents on trying a case before the bench when all alternatives have been exhausted,” attorney, Jason Cruz says. “If a lawyer suggests they want to try the case in front of a judge, you should definitely speak with another lawyer before proceeding,”
If you feel helpless when faced with an insurance denial, please know that you might be able to appeal with the help of a qualified lawyer, says David Himelfarb, attorney. Insurance companies routinely deny long-term disability claims, for example, particularly because it’s assumed that most people don’t have access to reputable attorneys to challenge the denial. “This is where intricate knowledge of the legal and insurance process, as well as the right team of experts to prove the claim, can reverse the odds.”
In choosing your attorney and your plan of action in resolving a dispute, it’s important to consider that despite what you see on television, most cases never see the inside of a courtroom. Typically, they’re settled outside the courtroom because of the time and expense involved, according to attorney Darren Heitner, author of How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know.
Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.
If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.
Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.
Credibility is one of the most important things in this world - and most important in a courtroom. If you care enough only to wear sweats to the courthouse, then the judge will see that you don't care, and that will be reflected in their desire to help you, listen to you, and decide in your favor. Step it up.
While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.
While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.
A knowledgeable attorney can protect your rights and keep you informed through the preliminary hearing process. In addition, in some cases, it is possible to negotiate a plea with the prosecutor before a preliminary hearing. An attorney can investigate this possibility and advise you as to whether it is a good option for you.
Shortly after arraignment, the court must conduct a proceeding—a preliminary hearing or a grand jury proceeding—where the state is required to present enough evidence to establish "probable cause" to believe that the defendant committed the crime. The defendant cannot be required to stand trial unless the prosecutor can present sufficient evidence ...
At a preliminary hearing, a judge hears the state's evidence and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to require the defendant to stand trial. The defense is not required to present evidence but may choose to do so to rebut the allegations against the defendant. If the evidence is not sufficient to establish probable cause, ...
A defendant is entitled to have an attorney represent them at a preliminary hearing. If the defendant requests an attorney, the court cannot conduct the hearing without ensuring that the defendant has private counsel or appointing an attorney—such as a public defender—to represent the defendant.
Some states use grand jury proceedings as an alternative to a preliminary hearing. The prosecutor presents evidence to a grand jury made up of members of the public. No judge is present but the grand jury is instructed to review the evidence according to a probable cause standard and determine whether there is sufficient evidence.
Criminal defendants usually have the option to waive the preliminary hearing, but it happens very rarely and no defendant should do this without the advice of an attorney. If you waive a preliminary hearing, you allow the prosecution to proceed on criminal charges against you without having to present its evidence.
An unreasonable delay violates the defendant's federal constitutional sixth amendment right to a speedy trial. If a defendant is arrested or charged in a criminal complaint and the prosecutor's office or the court does not schedule the preliminary hearing until months or years later, the case can be dismissed because of the delay. ...
An information is the charging document filed by the prosecutor after a preliminary hearing. Under Penal Code 739 the information may only: charge the accused with either the offenses in the complaint, OR. any offense or offenses shown by the evidence at the hearing.
waive the right to counsel in open court (except capital cases). After the waiver an information must be filed within 15 days. An information is the charging document filed by the prosecutor after a preliminary hearing.
impeach the testimony or statements of a prosecution witness. A person accused of a felony has the right to a preliminary hearing within ten days of the arraignment. This “speedy hearing” right is often waived.
Even if the accused plans to plead guilty, conducting a preliminary hearing may: highlight defenses which were not apparent before the hearing, reveal witnesses who will not hold up well under cross-examination, or. demonstrate to the prosecutor the case is weak.
The overriding purpose of a preliminary examination is to weed out groundless or unsupported charges.