At Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, we never farm any part of your case off to another firm. We personally oversee your case at every step in the process. You need an advocate fighting for you from the very first actions, through to potential negation of settlements, and in the courtroom if your case goes to trial. If you have just been charged and are nervous about what will happen next – don’t worry. Call us and we’ll be there for you!
Even if you have started working with another law firm but just don’t feel you are getting what you need, we can pick up your case wherever you are in the process and get to work on your behalf. We stay with you through all of the following parts of the process:
- Bail Hearing
A bail hearing will be held to determine whether you are likely to flee and avoid appearing for your court appearances. Most people are not considered as flight risks and therefore are allowed to post bail rather than be held at the jail.
If you need to call us from the jail to ask about professional bail bond providers, we can recommend someone to you that will not only arrange to set up your bond payment – they can even get you a discount on the bail fee.
We want to work to get you out of jail so that we can consult with you and start immediately on building your defense – even before you have an arraignment before a judge. This puts you one step up in dealing with the whole process.
- An Arraignment
The first time you will be required to appear in court – or sometimes simply before a judge in a video appearance – is known as an arraignment. This is when you have the chance to enter your initial plea, either as not guilty, guilty, or no contest.
Our advice is that you should always enter a plea of not guilty at your arraignment. Later, in the pretrial phase, you may want to consider a different plea if there is a plea bargain involved. Even if you agree to plead guilty in exchange for something like a deferred entry of judgment, you could still have your case dismissed which would allow you to keep your arrest off your record.
Our first thought at Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney is always to get you approved for an acquittal or a dismissal; we also know how to argue for a reduced sentence by means of a plea deal if that is your best possible option.
- During the Pretrial Phase
The pretrial phase is where most California criminal court cases get handled and resolved. We would prefer that you never have to make it to court. Having a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side will help you during this phase of your case, as you want someone who understands how the system works and is adept at getting deals from the prosecution.
There are a number of legal maneuvers that may be helpful to you during the pretrial phase; we can raise doubts that you actually committed a crime or question whether the evidence against you was legally obtained. Perhaps there was no probable cause for your arrest, or we have reason to suspect the testimony of an arresting officer is not trustworthy in your case (a tactic known as filing a Pitchess motion.)
If there is a plea bargain to be had and it is in your best interest, this is the point where we can get that done in conjunction with the prosecutor in the case. Of course, we will never arrange for a plea deal that you do not agree to.
- The Actual Trial
If your case must actually go to court, our goal will be to defend you in such a way as to win your acquittal. Prosecutors know that we often call their bluff at trial, and sometimes decide to drop cases or offer a plea deal even after the trial has begun. That is just one more advantage of having Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney on your side.
But if your case does go to trial and we have to face a jury on your behalf, we are experts in challenging the arguments raised by prosecutors, in cross-examining witnesses that testify against you, in calling witnesses that will testify for you, and in gathering evidence that will work in your favor and help to exculpate you and clear your name.
We want to get you a full acquittal, but a plea deal may be the final result of your trial.
- The Sentencing Hearing
If for any reason you are found guilty of the charges against you, we will shift into the gear of getting the lightest possible sentence for you.
Along with the prosecution, we – as your defense team – will get a chance to explain to a judge what we feel an appropriate sentence would be for you. We will tell the judge about any mitigating factors that could work in your favor and will seek to have your sentence be on the lighter end of the sentencing scale as provided in California law.
- If You Have a DMV Hearing
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) you most likely have received a pink temporary license that allows you to drive for 30 days. To preserve your right to continue driving, you will need to request an administrative hearing with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days after your arrest.
This is not an actual trial but can result in penalties and fines. You will want to have the most positive outcome possible at this hearing. That is another reason to have expert legal advice with an attorney by your side during this process. You can be required to face an administrative hearing and a trial on the same DUI charge. We know the ins and outs of both processes and will work to challenge your charges and/or to help you receive the minimum possible consequences.