Aug 23, 2013 · As someone who has never been a criminal defense attorney, here’s how I would answer: Anyone—everyone—is entitled to a defense, and to a lawyer, because our rule of law is based upon the premise that the State must prove its case against a person beyond a reasonable doubt and because the history of the world, and of America, teaches us that the …
A defense attorney should protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome for the case at hand. Why is a defense attorney important in our court system? Defense attorneys serve many purposes and can often greatly improve the outcome of a case. They work to ensure that courts do not wrongfully convict defendants or impose excessive ...
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A criminal defense attorney has the important job of representing people who are charged with crimes in a court of law. The U.S. Constitution promises that every citizen charged with a crime will be provided with legal representation. This promise is made to protect the rights of citizens to a fair trial. Criminal law is complicated. The average person doesn’t understand all of the rules …
Our jury instructions, which we’ve designed for any non-lawyer to understand, clearly outline the factors that must be present to justify self-defense in Maryland. All four of the following factors must be present:
As seasoned criminal attorneys, we understand that fights often get out of hand. Sometimes they progress beyond punches, and sometimes weapons are introduced. Contrary to popular belief, using a weapon does not automatically mean that your self-defense is not justified.
All this being said, you shouldn’t look for someone you can’t stand and start an argument in the hopes that they throw the first punch. In order to argue self-defense in Maryland, you must first be charged with a crime.
When you are charged with First or Second Degree Assault, find an attorney who will evaluate your situation and recommend the best course of action. Don’t pay the price if you were defending yourself lawfully. Contact our team of experienced attorneys at 410-753-4611, or make an appointment online, to get the best team on your side.
Many times the reason why your case might be taking so long, might relate to the stage your case is in. For example, if you are still seeking medical treatment, it may sometimes be difficult for your attorney to settle your case without knowing how much the exact medical bills cost or what the total of your medical liens total to.
You are always welcome to contact our law firm for a free second opinion and free consultation and free case evaluation. We can put our many years of experience to work for you, by visiting you near your home or office, or you can come meet with us at our office.
Although lawyers may swear to keep the confidentiality with a client or prospective client, he or she still may decline representation if the person is guilty and shows no remorse. For instance, a person who openly admits to raping or murdering someone may not receive representation from an ethical attorney.
A criminal attorney may also decline to represent a prospective client for reason of a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when an attorney gets into a situation in which he or she may be representing two parties in the same case.
If an attorney feels as though his or her client is guilty, and the crime goes against that attorney’s law of ethics and personal preference, he or she may refuse to represent someone. The defendant does not have to openly admit to the crime. Some attorneys will not go against their own morals and views to represent someone they believe is guilty.
If a defendant decides to use their lawyer's office as a confessional, their counsel is under no obligation to turn around and pass that information along to law enforcement. "If a client discloses his guilt to me, I’m obligated to do one thing and one thing only," Lichtman says. "Not let him lie on the stand while under oath."
Criminal defense attorneys, who stand beside clients accused of everything from minor offenses to mass murder, must mount the most effective defense of their client possible no matter how heinous the crime. While their work enforces a person’s constitutional right to a fair trial, some observers chastise them for representing society's villains.
Criminal defense attorneys, who stand beside clients accused of everything from minor offenses to mass murder, must mount the most effective defense of their client possible no matter how heinous the crime. While their work enforces a person’s constitutional right to a fair trial, some observers chastise them for representing society's villains.
In addition to Lichtman, we talked to Chris Tritico—the subject of the first episode of Oxygen’s In Defense Of docuseries premiering June 25, and who represented Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1997—as well as Bryan Gates, practicing in North Carolina. Here’s what they shared about life as a devil’s advocate.
Some defendants have clearly committed terrible crimes, but they still have constitutional rights— so attorneys don't let their personal feelings about a crime get in the way of a client's defense. “There’s never been a day I stood up for someone accused of a crime where I would endorse that crime,” says Tritico.
THEY'RE ALWAYS WATCHING THE JURY'S BODY LANGUAGE. Keeping tabs on a jury means being able to assess which direction they’re leaning. Lichtman says body language can tell him a lot. “You can feel how a trial is going,” he says. Jurors who laugh or smile at his jokes are on his side.
The image of an attorney standing up next to their client as the verdict is being read is usually interpreted as a sign of solidarity , but lawyers may have another reason. Tritico says that early in his career, he took on a client charged with aggravated robbery. Despite Tritico’s advice to take a plea bargain, the man took his chance at trial—and lost. His sentence was 40 years. “I was looking at the jury as the verdict was being read and felt something moving,” he says. “He had passed out. From that point forward, I always grab my client by the arm to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”