Knowing what the sentence will be for the crime you`ve been charged with is important when deciding whether to defend yourself or whether it`s time to contact criminal prosecutors to see who could offer the best possible defense. If you are accused of a crime, the law presumes your innocence. When you walk into the courtroom, the judge should think, « I presume this person is innocent. » 3. If an accused is already imprisoned, he or she may be motivated to speak in self-defence through self-defence because he or she has access to a prison or prison library to seek the details necessary to defend himself or herself adequately. The biggest risk of representing yourself without a lawyer is losing your case! This could happen if plea bargaining does not officially exist, at least as far as English law is concerned, but many prosecutors will consider accepting a plea for a lesser charge. Be reasonable about your chances of success (especially trial court conviction rates are very high) before you decide to fight. Normally, lawyers engage in these discussions, as they can do so without admitting responsibility, but if you are desperate, you can try to politely approach the prosecutor to discuss your case. Remember that everything you tell them gives them ammunition. When you choose to be your own representative, you are usually literally taking charge of your own destiny. In some cases, however, it may be a good idea to hire an attack lawyer or another lawyer. You may think that if you`re innocent, you don`t need a lawyer, but that`s the kind of naivety that could lead you to be wrongly convicted while the penguin man in charge is released. « I have pursued trials against unrepresented defendants, » said a lawyer for the charity. « It is a complete deception and a pale imitation of justice. » But if you`re unlucky enough to have to defend your case yourself, or if you`re confident enough in your presentation and analysis skills, here are a few things you need to do.
All or most of the evidence I need to prove my case is in the possession of the other party, and the other party probably won`t leave it to me so easily. I have a complicated case or a case that could become complicated. If you have documents or photos, bring the original and two copies (original for the dish, one copy for you and one copy for the other side). Things you may need to take to court include disputed contracts, receipts, estimates, letters, invoices, photos, etc. Some documents cannot be used as evidence unless the right person is present in the courtroom to explain the document and answer questions about it. There are many rules for evidence, and you may want to talk to a lawyer about the evidence you need and how to make sure your evidence can be reviewed by the judge or jury. Talk to a lawyer at this point before doing anything else. A lawyer can talk to you about your legal rights and options, the strength of the Crown`s case against you, and the type of sentence you may receive if the judge finds you guilty (finds you guilty).
If you miss your hearing date or are late, the court may rule against you. Take enough time to go to court. Consider traffic, weather, parking, frequency of bus service and the time it takes to pass through the court`s metal detectors. Even if you are not a lawyer, you still need to know and follow almost all the laws and rules of the courts like a lawyer. Understanding the law that applies to your case can help you understand what you need to prove and allow you to focus on the relevant issues. Of course, the goal of representing yourself or seeking the help of a lawyer is to have little or no time for a crime. With the help of an experienced defence lawyer, it is possible to obtain a reduced or even conditional sentence, which is essentially a period of probation granted by a judge before the accused is expected to serve his sentence. A good rule of thumb is to arrive in the courtroom at least thirty to forty-five minutes before your hearing.
Arriving late tends to make people anxious and distracted. Representing yourself in court can be an emotional experience, and you may have trouble staying focused in court if you are nervous or upset. But you don`t want to leave the courtroom without understanding the outcome of the hearing or trial and what to do next, if any. For example, do you have to attend another hearing? Do you need to prepare written legal arguments or submit documents to the court? Do you need to prepare an order or will the judge do it? The court appearance, where you tell the court how you are going to plead, is called an indictment hearing. At this hearing, you enter your plea and tell the court if you are pleading not guilty or guilty. 2.Some people feel uncomfortable working with lawyers because they see them as part of the current problem of the legal system and see lawyers as corrupt. Unfortunately, this stereotype won`t do much for an accused, especially since if you choose to represent yourself, you often do so with little knowledge of how to properly represent your case before a judge or court. If you`re accused of a crime, it`s usually not a good plan to defend yourself in court. Nevertheless, there are exceptions, and a case of debt is one of them. If you think you`re innocent and don`t need a lawyer, or if you just can`t afford one, then you need to try to build the best defense possible. You can use the checklist below to assess whether it`s a good idea for you to represent yourself.
Check each of the boxes that apply to you and your case. The more boxes you tick, the riskier it can be to represent yourself, and the more you should think about hiring a lawyer. Perhaps the prosecutor`s testimony does not show that you want to take the item without paying for it. Instead, the evidence gives the impression that you simply forgot to pay for the item. In this case, you can file an application without proof. You would stand up and tell the judge that there is no evidence of your intention to commit the crime. If the judge agrees, the charges are dismissed. Do not attend your hearing or hearing expecting an interpreter to be available for the court. It is your responsibility to retain an interpreter prior to your hearing to ensure that you or your witnesses can testify. You must contact the Tribunal`s Interpretation Office at least two business days before your hearing to find an interpreter for your hearing. Click here to visit our interpreters page for more information. For a judge to find you guilty, the prosecutor must prove all parts of the crime.
When the prosecutor has finished presenting his case and you feel that he has not proved all the documents, you can file a request for evidence. If the judge agrees that there is no evidence of a constituent element, the charges are dismissed. In repeated traffic violations, it is often wise to understand how the penalty will increase, weigh the pros and cons of retaining the services of an experienced criminal lawyer, or continue to represent yourself with hope of success. Law is not a compulsory subject in school, and good books on it are expensive. Avoid the advice of salon lawyers who like to think they are Rumpole of the Bailey, but who probably work behind the counter on your local Costa. To quote Heath Ledger`s Joker, if you`re good at something, you`re not doing it for free. Instead, go to a library, get help from Citizens Advice, or stick to government websites about the law, such as the Criminal Procedure Guide. The Crown Prosecution Service itself publishes guides to crimes such as assault. At the Magistrates Court, you should rely on Stone`s Judges` Handbook; At Crown Court, you`ll want to take a look at Archbold and Blackstone`s criminal practice. Don`t start quoting Magna Carta unless you want to be mocked on the witness stand. Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own attorney in all cases in California.
