Vital Services To Expect When You Retain A Criminal Defense Attorney
Posted on: 13 January 2022
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When you are facing serious charges in court, you want to use every opportunity to defend yourself. However, you may not know much, if anything, about the legal process of appearing in and arguing for yourself in court. You do not want to risk the outcome of your case on your own representation.
Instead, you have the right to hire or have an attorney appointed to you. You can benefit from entrusting your case to an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Making the Case for Bail
You also have the right to have an attorney on retainer immediately after your arrest. Having a criminal defense lawyer on retainer can be vital for when you appear at your arraignment hearing.
During this hearing, the judge will decide if you are eligible for bond or bail. Your criminal defense attorney can make the case for why the judge should release you on bail and allow you to wait for your next court date at home rather than in jail. You may avoid having to sit behind bars for weeks or longer until your next scheduled court appearance.
Showing Proof of Innocence
Your criminal defense lawyer can also work diligently to prove your innocence in court. His or her job is to instill enough doubt in the minds of the judge and jury to avoid a conviction. He or she can use evidence in the case to show you did not commit the crime. Your criminal defense attorney may also show discrepancies in testimonies from witnesses or raise legitimate questions about how the crime might have been committed other than how the police allege.
This doubt and questioning can pose the scenario that someone else other than you committed the crime. The judge or jury may find it in your favor because of the arguments your criminal defense attorney presents in court.
Bargaining Down the Charges
Finally, your criminal defense lawyer might argue down charges if the case is airtight and a conviction is likely. He or she may secure the least amount of punishment for you and may spare you from having to serve time in jail or prison.
A criminal defense attorney can offer a number of beneficial services. They can argue that you should be granted bail or bond to be released from jail. Your lawyer may also convince the court to return a not guilty verdict or bargain down the charges to secure you the least amount of punishment. Contact a group like Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C. to discuss your case.