The first thing you should learn and understand if you’re about to go into a defense case is the purpose of criminal trials. Jennifer Williams, an experienced teacher of Law explains it like this:
“The purpose of criminal trials in the United States is to ensure that an individual accused of a crime receives a fair and impartial evaluation of the situation in order to determine if he is guilty or not.”
Once you digest this explanation properly, you should already be in a better mental position to prepare for your trial. In the following article, we’ll also allude to eight very useful tips to help you prepare for your defense case.
So let’s check out these practical tips.
1. Prepare Your Documentation
First things first, you need to get all the relevant documents for your case in order. In some cases there may be a few thousand documents to deal with, so give yourself plenty of time to prepare them.
Some of these documents will be records that will help bolster your case. Your defense attorney may ask you to help them gather numerous documents, such as records, before the case.
For instance, your lawyer might ask you for bank statements from the past five or ten years. And you should allow time for third parties, like your bank, in this case, to provide you with your request.
2. Decide How You Will Plea
You have to be realistic about how you want to plea in your court case. Go into detail about the possible strengths of the prosecution and the likelihood that they might persuade the jury you’re guilty. If you and your defense attorney believe they have a strong case, you should consider a guilty plea.
However, if you genuinely feel like your case has promise, then you should be aiming for a not guilty plea. Just be aware, there could be very serious repercussions based on how you plea.
3. Develop a Strong Defense
If you are going to plead not guilty then you need to develop a rock-solid comprehensive defense with your attorney. Leave nothing unturned in the way of anything that could constitute evidence to back your case.
However, if you want to enter a plea deal, then do so as soon as possible. Often, the quicker you enter a plea bargain, the lesser the punishment may be for you.
4. Choose the Right Attorney
Having the right attorney on your side could very well mean the difference between you being found not guilty rather than guilty. Make sure you can get the most reputable lawyer that has experience with your case type and has shown to be successful with similar cases.
You may be tempted to go for a cheaper option thinking that your case is already strong enough. However, if things develop in the courtroom in a way you didn’t envisage, you’ll want an experienced attorney on your side, even if they cost more. If you want to see a prime example of a reputable defense attorney, here you can view more.
5. Remain Positive
A criminal trial can be one of the most stressful and worrying things you’ll face in your entire life. Yet, you don’t have to frame it that way.
A good tip is to find ways to remain positive about your situation and your defense strategy. See it this way, you are innocent unless you are proven guilty by the jury. And the jury can only find you guilty if they believe it is beyond a reasonable doubt, so the prosecution has their work cut out!
6. Witness Preparations
Many attorneys will help to prepare your witnesses for court. They’ll run through role-play scenarios, for example. They’ll consider the various questions a witness may be asked, and how they should answer them.
After all, courtrooms can become extremely stressful at times. Even an experienced attorney can succumb to the pressures in a courtroom! So, it’s crucial that your witnesses have some well-prepared answers and statements rehearsed and in their minds.
7. Don’t Forget Your Court Date
This tip might seem a little silly to some, but there have been plenty of instances where people have got their dates mixed up. This can happen when you’re focused on all the other more challenging details of your case.
Just make sure you have confirmed written confirmation of your court date, and that everyone involved has to. If you do miss a court date, you risk having a warrant put out for your arrest, among other things.
8. Conduct Yourself Appropriately
You can have done all the preparation in the world and hire the best defense lawyer, but if you don’t act in an appropriate manner, it can be all for nothing. Ask your lawyer for advice on the dos and don’ts of attending court, to gain a good idea of how to act.
Also, try to look as presentable as possible. It might sound archaic, but a clean shave can give a strong impression that you care about presenting yourself in a proper manner to the judge and jury.
Some tips we can give you right now are:
- Don’t chew gum in the courtroom
- Don’t read or talk too often unless you are spoken too
- Don’t take in any personal gadgets
Also, trying to be polite, cordial, and humble in your mannerisms can help others to see you in a positive light. If you know you have a temper, make sure it does not burst out in the courtroom. Instead, maybe practice mental techniques that can help you control your temper and keep your cool.
Be Prepared For Your Defense Case
The best way to approach any defense case is loads of preparation. When you are prepared, the process can be less stressful, and even predictable. And we’ll reiterate that you should try to stay positive!
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