When a person is unfortunate enough to be facing a criminal charge, it can be one of the more stressful and confusing experiences in their life. Due to the potentially dire consequences that can follow a conviction, it is important for you to be as informed as possible throughout this process. To this end, you should be sure to know the answers to the following couple of common questions about criminal proceedings to help you be prepared to make sound decisions throughout this process.
Can You Change Lawyers?
Attorneys are trained and mandated to provide the best legal advice and representation possible to their clients. However, it is an unfortunate fact that a client and an attorney may not be a particularly good match for each other. Whether it is due to personality differences or a feeling that the attorney is not giving the case the attention it needs, it is important for you to understand that it is your legal right to be able to change attorneys.
While it is possible for you to change attorneys, this should always be a last resort. Changing your defense can disrupt the proceedings, and it can put your new attorney in the unenviable position of playing catch up to the prosecution.
What Is The Purpose Of An Appeal?
If your trial turns out negatively for you, it is important to note that this may not be the end of the road because it is possible to file appeals. When you appeal, an appellant court will review the proceedings and findings of your case to determine if errors were made. It should be noted that an appellant court is only likely to intervene in a case if there is evidence of procedural errors or misapplications of the law.
It should also be noted that there will not be a trial during the appeal process. Rather than going through a formal trial, it is more common for appeals to largely be done through preparing and submitting written arguments to the court.
Ensuring that you are effectively represented against criminal charges is critical for minimizing the chances of being convicted. However, it is an unfortunate fact that many people are not very experienced or informed about this process, which can make it far more difficult to successfully mount a defense. By understanding that you are allowed to change attorneys during this process and the appeals process, you will likely find that you are better equipped to deal with this challenging situation.
For more information and help, talk with a criminal defense attorney directly.
Share15 April 2016
