how to research a criminal attorney trial records

by Bailey Bauch DDS 5 min read

To obtain access to those records, researchers must contact the appropriate federal court. Online access to case and docket information is provided for a fee by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts through PACER. The court may refer you to a Federal Records Center to obtain copies.

Full Answer

How do I get all court records for a murder case?

May 05, 2020 · Here’s how to research an attorney track record before you sign any retainer agreement and get trusted personal attorney. Google. The easiest way to know if you’ve bagged a legit lawyer is but Googling the lawyer in question. You can Google the …

Where can I find case data for legal research?

• Case number (s) – The best way to obtain specific details is with the actual case number. Even if you do not have this and you do have the offender’s legal name, you might come across the information you want. If a criminal record appears with an online search, open the record carefully and verify it is for the individual you want to check.

How do I check a criminal record online?

Jul 20, 2009 · You can, however, go to www.mncourts.gov then click on access to trial court records, accept the license agreement, then click on criminal/traffic court records, then search by lawyer name. This will show you a list of cases the attorney has handled in the trial courts going back to when the court began making these records available online.

How do I get a copy of a federal court case?

The legal research attorney team at the National Legal Research Group has the knowledge, the experience, and the ability to complete research and document preparation for even the most complicated of criminal law cases in a timely manner. Our research team works hard to provide our attorney-clients with exceptional legal research and document ...

image

Where are court records stored?

Holdings from the federal court system are stored at National Archives locations around the country.

How old are federal court records?

For Court Records less than 15 Years Old. Please note: Generally, federal court records less than 15 years old are still in the possession of individual courts are not held by the National Archives. To obtain access to those records, researchers must contact the appropriate federal court.

How many pages of court documents are there?

It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 billion textual pages of court materials in the National Archives. As the court retires materials annually, this number continues to grow. Court materials are created by: District Courts. Circuit Courts.

Where are the New Hampshire federal courts located?

For instance, records of the New Hampshire federal courts are currently located at the National Archives at Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts.

What is criminal law research?

As Criminal Law practitioners know well, the area of criminal law is subject to rapid and significant change and is often misunderstood by even those authorities charged with enforcing it. Whether you represent the prosecution or the defense, the National Legal Research Group can help you stay ahead ...

What is National Legal Research Group?

The National Legal Research Group boasts a veteran team of RICO-savvy research attorneys with extensive experience aiding our attorney-clients in state and federal RICO litigation claims and defenses. Our research attorney team has assisted our clients in state and federal courts across the country, supporting our attorney-clients with the representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in civil RICO, and other white-collar crime cases.

What are white collar crimes?

Our attorneys have dealt with many cases involving White Collar Crimes, including, but not limited to, antitrust violations, embezzlement, mortgage fraud, money laundering, insurance fraud, environmental law violations, government fraud, mail fraud, tax evasion, financial fraud, and securities fraud. White Collar Crime cases can be quite complicated in nature, and involve a variety of federal and state laws, and possible sentences. Typically, the government will charge individuals with white collar crimes, but they also have the power to sanction corporations as well. Since white collar crimes have cost the U.S. government a significant amount of time and money, and they be very difficult to prosecute without substantial evidence, whistleblowers are increasingly used to help with these criminal law cases. If you are finding that you need additional assistance with your case, in the prosecution or the defense, our criminal law research attorneys can help.

What are some legal issues that we frequently are asked to address?

Some legal issues that we frequently are asked to address are: The applicability of various defenses, such as insanity, entrapment, self-defense, and double jeopardy. The applicability of procedural rights, such as discovery, speedy trial, and the right to confrontation.

What is NLRG criminal law?

The criminal law legal research attorneys at NLRG are extremely effective at reviewing complex criminal cases, staying up-to-date on both state and federal legislation and understanding and identifying the relevant and critical issues within each case.

What are the laws governing wiretaps and other interceptions of communications?

The laws governing wiretaps and other interceptions of communications. The applicability of various defenses, such as insanity, entrapment, self-defense, and double jeopardy. The applicability of procedural rights, such as discovery, speedy trial, and the right to confrontation.

Michael A Ferrara Jr

There are no win/loss statistics. Also, recognize that most cases, if prepared and presented properly, are won or lost based on what juries or judges hear from the witness stand. Excellent lawyers have lost cases and less than excellent lawyers have won cases.

Kevin Martin Malloy

You can't. And if a lawyer actually knows the answer they haven't tried enough cases. Meet with them and go with your guy.

John M. Walsh

There's a saying - a trial lawyer who has never lost a case only handles great cases.

David William Neel

All of the above are correct that there is no source of win/loss records for lawyers. Occasionally you will hear or read something like "Jerry Spence never lost a case in his years as a prosecutor" which may indeed be true. But this is rare, indeed. In litigation there are always risks of an adverse ruling.

Patrick Kevin Slyne

I agree that these statistics generally do not exist. However, a pure win/loss record would be deceiving.

Mark E. Milsop

No lawyer knows his won-loss record unless he is inexperienced and only tried a few cases. You just need to do your homework. Go online. Read reviews on Avvo. Talk to several local lawyers in the county where you were charged. Meet with a few to get second opinions, just like you would if you were looking for a second opinion from a doctor.

Ellis B. Klein

I agree with the other answers that you can't obtain that info. Ask your prospective attorney questions and see if you're comfortable with him or her.

Where are court records stored?

When court records and case files are eligible for permanent preservation, they are transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for storage and preservation. These records can be accessed directly from NARA.

What is a PACER account?

Federal case files are maintained electronically and are available through the internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. PACER allows anyone with an account to search and locate appellate, district, and bankruptcy court case and docket information. Register for a PACER account .

What is the IDB?

Define the data needs for research using the Federal Court Cases Integrated Database (IDB) provided free of charge by the Federal Judicial Center. The IDB has case data (not documents) for criminal, civil, appellate, and bankruptcy cases that can help researchers refine their requests.

Is there a fee for court opinions on PACER?

Court opinions are available for free on PACER to anyone with an account. Additionally, access to court opinions from many appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts are available for no fee in a text searchable format through a partnership with the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), consistent with the E-Government Act.

How long are court files held?

Once the files are received they will be held at the courthouse for 10 days. Public copiers are available for use or staff can make copies for you (see costs below). Note: The Court does not provide research services over the telephone.

What is the phone number for a court case?

If you need to speak with someone, you may call 916-874-8881. Please note:The court will not confirm or deny dates of birth, social security numbers or provide research over the phone.

How to find court records?

Once you're ready to find the records, contact the court or visit its website to find out the procedure. If the court records are online, you can access them from your computer, for example, by entering the defendant's name. Some systems charge for that. If the information isn't online, visit the courthouse. The court's own computers may have more ...

How to look up old cases?

There are several different ways to look up an old case in court databases and files, such as using the defendant's name or the case number assigned to the court proceedings . If, say, all you know is the victim's name, that's not enough. A Google search of the name or looking up old newspapers from the time of the murder may give you enough ...

What to do if a court won't budge?

If the court won't budge and you don't think their reason is valid, look up your state's laws on records access, often called a Public Records or Open Records law. File a formal request for the case files, using the procedure outlined in the law. If you get a no again, it should at least come with an explanation for the refusal.

What happens if a case is sealed?

Once the case is sealed, you lose your right to access the relevant material. The exact rules on the types of cases that can be sealed vary from state to state. Sometimes a court staffer may simply refuse to provide the records. This can happen even if there are no legal grounds for saying no.

Can you get a court seal if you have a case number?

When the Court Says No. Some records won't be available, even if you have the case number. If the defendant was a juvenile, for instance, she may request that the court seal the record after she turns 18. Once the case is sealed, you lose your right to access the relevant material.

Does California have a murder trial database?

There's no central U.S. database of murder trials or any other court records, so you'll also need to know which court to contact. In California, for example, each county keeps its own records of criminal cases; if there are multiple court branches, the main criminal court maintains a master index.

Can you see old murder cases?

When researching an old murder court case, a simple request for the relevant files may be all you need. With a few exceptions, murder and other criminal cases are public records, so you have a right to see them.

What is the continuum of criminal records?

The Archives of Ontario holds a continuum of criminal justice records created from the time the police undertake an investigation into a criminal act, to the court trial and sentencing, to the resulting incarceration, probation, or parole.

What is a benchbook in a criminal case?

Benchbooks are the longhand notes taken by a Justice during a trial or while in chambers (I.e., in his/her office). They typically record: the place and date of trial; name of the defendant(s) and their charge(s); names of the witnesses and the evidence they gave; details of any motions or objections raised in the course of the trial; and the verdict and, if applicable, the sentence. Depending upon the Justice, a benchbook may also contain comments about the testimony of witnesses, the character of the accused and insights into the judge's decision.

What is the Medico-Legal Laboratory?

33-28, 1931-1961):Originally known as the Medico-Legal Laboratory, this office provides forensic services to police forces across Ontario. The files usually contain a police report describing the crime scene and the evidence found, the notes taken by Laboratory staff while examining the submitted samples, and the Laboratory's report to the police. As Forensic Sciences case files are now retained for 50 years, the Archives is not scheduled to receive its next transfer until 2019.

Who is responsible for incarcerating people in Ontario?

The Government of Ontario is responsible for incarcerating individuals awaiting trial, those sentenced to a prison term of less than two years, and most young offenders. The Archives holds some records from provincially managed correctional facilities, dating from 1832 to 1986 with gaps. They include:

What is parole in Ontario?

Parole: The supervised and conditional release of an inmate from a federal or Ontario correctional facility before the end of their sentence. Parolees regularly report to a Parole Officer.

image