The criminal litigation process involves several stages that you should know about, especially if your case is likely to go to trial. Being informed will allow you to remain proactive and well prepared for what lies ahead. A top rated The Woodlands TX criminal lawyer will defend you in court and work on giving your case the best chances of yielding a favorable outcome.
There are six main steps that are involved in the trial process. Getting arrested is what sets the whole process in motion. Before one can get arrested, the police must first get an arrest warrant from a judge. The warrant is only issued when the authorities have reasonable evidence that you may have committed a particular crime. It pays to exercise your right to remain silent and only talk through your attorney.
After formal charges are made against you, you will be scheduled for an initial hearing. The nature of the criminal charges you face will be explained by the judge and you will also get acquainted with your rights, bail amount and other related details. Depending on your jurisdiction, the hearing could be combined with an arraignment where you can enter a guilty, not guilty or no contest plea.
It is the duty of the state to create a solid case against you. This means that it needs to have substantial evidence to present during preliminary hearing sessions. Once this part of the process is complete, your case will get into the discovery and pretrial stage and your lawyer as well as the attorney representing the victim will meet to share vital information and evidence about your case. The information that is discovered will allow your attorney to file motions if need be.
A reliable criminal attorney will fight for your best interests right from the instance an arrest is made. During the pretrial, he or she could gather information and file a motion to suppress certain pieces of evidence or even dismiss them. How the pretrial stage rolls out may dictate your chances of success during the main trial. Based on how your case looks like at this point, your lawyer could even use his or her good relations with the prosecutor to get you into a plea bargain.
The trial phase has various parts and the first is the opening statements. After this is the evidence presentation part, witness testimonials and then closing statements. Once you have completed these elements, the case could go to a jury for deliberation and they will later deliver their verdict. The final step of the trial is sentencing and this happens on a different date.
If you are found guilty of committing a crime, all is not lost. You still have the right to appeal and your attorney will ensure that all legalities are adhered to and all proper channels followed. It remains imperative to understand that a conviction can only be appealed if you plead not guilty.
Because the criminal litigation process is complicated, the need to work with a seasoned attorney must not be underestimated. Your legal advocate can provide invaluable assistance whether you are guilty as accused or as innocent as a saint. For you to enjoy a superb outcome, find an attorney who is experienced in handling all kinds of criminal cases from serious felonies to minor misdemeanors.
There are six main steps that are involved in the trial process. Getting arrested is what sets the whole process in motion. Before one can get arrested, the police must first get an arrest warrant from a judge. The warrant is only issued when the authorities have reasonable evidence that you may have committed a particular crime. It pays to exercise your right to remain silent and only talk through your attorney.
After formal charges are made against you, you will be scheduled for an initial hearing. The nature of the criminal charges you face will be explained by the judge and you will also get acquainted with your rights, bail amount and other related details. Depending on your jurisdiction, the hearing could be combined with an arraignment where you can enter a guilty, not guilty or no contest plea.
It is the duty of the state to create a solid case against you. This means that it needs to have substantial evidence to present during preliminary hearing sessions. Once this part of the process is complete, your case will get into the discovery and pretrial stage and your lawyer as well as the attorney representing the victim will meet to share vital information and evidence about your case. The information that is discovered will allow your attorney to file motions if need be.
A reliable criminal attorney will fight for your best interests right from the instance an arrest is made. During the pretrial, he or she could gather information and file a motion to suppress certain pieces of evidence or even dismiss them. How the pretrial stage rolls out may dictate your chances of success during the main trial. Based on how your case looks like at this point, your lawyer could even use his or her good relations with the prosecutor to get you into a plea bargain.
The trial phase has various parts and the first is the opening statements. After this is the evidence presentation part, witness testimonials and then closing statements. Once you have completed these elements, the case could go to a jury for deliberation and they will later deliver their verdict. The final step of the trial is sentencing and this happens on a different date.
If you are found guilty of committing a crime, all is not lost. You still have the right to appeal and your attorney will ensure that all legalities are adhered to and all proper channels followed. It remains imperative to understand that a conviction can only be appealed if you plead not guilty.
Because the criminal litigation process is complicated, the need to work with a seasoned attorney must not be underestimated. Your legal advocate can provide invaluable assistance whether you are guilty as accused or as innocent as a saint. For you to enjoy a superb outcome, find an attorney who is experienced in handling all kinds of criminal cases from serious felonies to minor misdemeanors.
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