The Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney
1 year ago by Brian
If you are currently facing criminal charges in Minnesota, the last thing you want to do is talk to the police on your own or represent yourself in court. Consequently, one of the most important steps that you can take following your arrest is to retain a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer in Woodbury, MN to represent you.
Criminal defense representation is important for individuals facing both major and minor criminal offenses, ranging from DUI charges to homicides to white-collar crimes. A lawyer can meet with you to discuss your criminal charge, protect your legal rights while your case is pending, and discuss all of your legal options in detail with you. They can also aggressively advocate for you at all criminal court hearings.
Safeguarding Your Legal Rights
If you have been arrested and are awaiting your trial date, the police and prosecutors are not going to do you any favors. In fact, it’s not their job. They’re going to do everything that they possibly can to get you to say something damaging to your case. If a police officer or investigator starts questioning you about your charge, you should immediately assert your Fifth Amendment right to the presence of legal counsel. We can be present with you – in person or on the phone – during any police questioning, helping to safeguard your legal rights and ensure that you do not say anything that will damage your case.
Raising a Legal Defense to Your Charge
To obtain a conviction against you, the prosecutor must satisfy all of the legal elements of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt – or beyond a doubt that is based upon common sense and ordinary reason. As the defendant in a case, you do not have to satisfy any legal burden. In fact, you don’t have to prove anything in your case – or even take the witness stand and testify at trial. However, by raising a legal defense to your criminal charge, you might preclude the prosecutor from establishing one or more legal elements of the offense.
Depending upon your pending criminal charge(s), you may be able to raise one or more legal defenses in court. Some of the most common defenses include:
- Alibi – This means that you were somewhere else at the time of the alleged offense.
- Self-defense – This means that in a homicide, battery, or assault case, the other person was the initial aggressor – and that you only used an amount of force that was proportionate to the force the aggressor used against you.
- Mistaken identity – Meaning that it was someone else who actually committed the alleged offense.
- Lack of possession – In drug cases, meaning that you were not aware that drugs were located in the area where the police found them and that, consequently, you did not possess them.
- Lack of intent – Meaning that you did not have the necessary intent to commit the crime charged.
Representing You in Court
A skilled criminal defense lawyer can also represent you at all courtroom proceedings in your criminal case. You want a lawyer with successful working relationships with criminal court prosecutors who understands what they look for when evaluating a criminal case. Depending upon the circumstances of your pending charge – and your criminal record – they could help you obtain a favorable plea deal. If you choose not to plead guilty to the underlying charge, they could represent you at trial and during any other court hearings that go forward in your case.
Speak to a Knowledgeable Woodbury Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
JS Defense, PA, is ready to help you obtain the best possible result in your pending criminal case. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a skilled criminal defense attorney, contact us online as soon as possible. Call: 651-968-9652
