Too often, we hear citizens complain, “The defendant has all the rights; the victim has none.” This old adage could not be further from the truth. Yes, the defendant has rights: the right to a fair trial, the right to effective counsel, the right to remain silent, and the right to confront his accuser, among … Read more
Chronicle Editorial Hits Nail on the Head: Hollywood ending, A potentially innocent man sat behind bars so that a prosecutor could get on television. “an awful lot of razzle dazzle for the serious business that goes down in criminal courtrooms” Some prosecutors forget. Some never know it to begin with. But, criminal courtrooms are serious … Read more
Client communication is key! You must communicate with your client regularly so that they will know what is happening and so that you can answer any questions they have. Because criminal lawyers spend a great deal of time communicating in person (with frequent court settings, visits at the jail, telephone calls, etc.) you end up … Read more
What does your client expect? Knowing what she expects can help you meet those expectations. Knowing what she expects can help you redirect those expectations when they are unrealistic. Communication is key in this regard. When you first meet a potential client, it is important that you ask her what she expects. Does she expect … Read more
One of those Facebook “challenges” that made its rounds a while back asked you to name ten things that most people may not know about you. I was only able to list 7, but number 1 on the list was: I always wanted to be a teacher. Combine that with being a lawyer, and I … Read more
nolle prosequi (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for “we shall no longer prosecute,” which is a declaration made to the judge by a prosecutor in a criminal case either before or during trial, meaning the case against the defendant is being dropped. The statement is an admission that the charges cannot be proved, that evidence has … Read more
Do you really need a lawyer? I’m of the opinion, if you have to ask, then the answer is almost always “Yes.” But, consider this: You are charged with a misdemeanor offense, you show up for court, and the judge asks, “Have you talked to the prosecutor yet?” Saying no, the judge instructs you to … Read more