The Tasks And Responsibilities Of A Criminal Defense Attorney

By Dale Peck


The criminal defense attorney Fairfield CA is hired by individuals or corporations charged with a crime to represent them in legal proceedings. It is a defendant's right to seek legal counsel when faced with criminal charges. The lawyer is obligated to clear his client's reputation or mitigating the sanctions to a lower degree with the use of any legal means.

Knowledge on the court system and the law is fundamental to become a competent criminal defense lawyer. An efficient legal counsel is well acquainted with the nuts and bolts of the proceedings. The counsel will use only legal means to demerit the case and defend his clients. However, he might have to resort extra-judicial methods at times.

Since anybody is deemed innocent by the law until proven guilty, the legal counsel does not have to do much to prove the defendant's innocence. It is the prosecutor's duty to present the case. However, if there is an exonerating evidence, the defense attorney may present it in the trial. The lawyer must also establish a reasonable alibi proving that the accused has no way of participating in the supposed crime.

As a legal practitioner, it is the lawyer's obligation to protect his client's best interest. If the arrest has been made under unfavorable condition, the counsel can challenge its lawfulness. Even if the arresting officer insists on probable cause, the counsel may question it. Moreover, the lawyer can analyze the case's merit to come up with a strategy. Going to trial may not always end up well.

Although it is incumbent for the attorneys to defend their clients, they have to respect the legal limitations. Proper guidelines and ethical practices must still be followed. For instance, the counsel must never put a witness on the stand to intentionally perpetuate lies. The lawyer must never resort to concocting lies just to protect his client either.

Conversely, an attorney needs to know the absolute truth. Whether or not the accused is guilty of committing the crime, knowing the actual incident is crucial to strategize. This can help establish one's alibi or find legal means to reduce the intensity of the punishments. If proving one's innocence is impossible, the next resort is to plea-bargain.

If a plea bargain is offered by the prosecutor, the defendant's counsel reviews the details on the agreement. He will discuss the deal with his client, explaining the pros and cons of the move. He must advise his client of any legal implications, too. This will help the accused decide whether to plea guilty or not.

The counsel must also conduct extensive research about the case. Data gathering is indispensable. The lawyer reviews statutory interpretations that may be helpful in bolstering the defense. They also interview and take depositions from the witnesses. At times, they hire experts who can help them interpret and analyze the evidence presented by the investigators.

For some people, the criminal defense attorney Fairfield CA may come off negatively. It may appear that they help the criminals escape. In reality, they also have noble duties to perform. They have to ensure that innocent people are not wrongfully punished. If the accused turns out to be guilty, they make sure that the sanctions handed down are just and fair.




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