People who represent themselves at criminal trials seldom have a good outcome. While they may study the laws related to their case and think they are ready to defend against criminal charges, their lack of experience tends to backfire on them in ways they never anticipated. If you're facing criminal charges, it's important to consider the potential consequences if the prosecution can prove its case against you. With so much on the line, hiring an experienced defense attorney is the only logical thing to do.
All About Double Jeopardy in Delayed Death Murder Cases
Murder has long been different from other crimes in that it has no statute of limitations and can be charged even when death occurs long after the criminal act. Another long-standing principle in the law is that the constitutional provision against double jeopardy means that a person can't be tried twice for the same action. What happens when these two principles collide?
Do You Need a Lawyer? How to Find an Attorney You Can Count On
Finding a good lawyer is an important part of dealing with any sort of legal problem. Whether you need a trust drawn up or a will created, the right attorney will help you get the job done as quickly and painlessly as possible. Unfortunately, many people aren't quite sure how to find a trustworthy lawyer. If you've never had to meet with someone for legal advice or counseling, chances are that you are unsure of where to start searching. No matter what type of lawyer you need, there are several ways you can be sure to get the best help possible for your personal situation.
I Am Not a Former Prosecutor, and Proud of It
I have practiced criminal defense my entire career. In all my criminal cases I have sat on the defense side of the table. Every time. I am not a former prosecutor, and proud of it.
There are many things to consider when hiring a criminal defense attorney. In many ways it is one of the most important decisions you can ever make. So much is at stake. One thing you need to decide is whether you want to hire a former prosecutor.
What does a criminal defense attorney cost?
Aside from reputation and experience, pricing is among the first things potential clients always ask about when attempting to hire a private criminal defense attorney. This makes sense because most people have never experienced hiring a criminal attorney before and are completely oblivious as to what it will actually costs. In fact, clients are often so afraid of discussing the topic of cost that they just stick with a public defender even when they do not want to. This is a tragedy because one can often find very competent counsel at reasonable prices.
Violating the Attorney-Client Privilege Is a Very Serious Matter
I often get asked about the attorney-client privilege and what it means and whether anything said to an attorney is confidential. I usually answer that yes, as a general matter, anything said between an attorney and client is confidential and cannot be used against the client unless the client consents or they themself divulge information about the conversation. There are exceptions, of course. If the conversation is between a third-party then it is not private, unless that third-party is working for the attorney. Also, if the client divulges that he/she will commit a serious/violent crime in the very near future than the attorney generally has a duty to report that information. Otherwise, everything is confidential and the confidentiality generally last forever (even beyond the death of the client, usually).
