Preparing for a criminal trial can be a very daunting task. As soon as you know you are going to trial, it is important that you begin to prepare. Proper preparation requires getting legal counsel, staying out of trouble, and deciding whether to testify. None of these steps will necessarily be simple, but they are absolutely critical to your success for a criminal case. Lutz residents first step should be to seek legal counsel.

After a person has been charged, they will be arraigned. You can hire an attorney or have one appointed for you. Once you have an attorney, you can discuss whether or not you want to talk with the police. If you do, your attorney should be present. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint either a public defender or a private defense attorney for your criminal case. Lutz residents may have to fill out a form listing your assets and liabilities. After reviewing the form, the judge will determine whether to appoint a public defender.

It is very important that a criminal defendant tell their lawyer everything! An effective criminal defense requires knowing all the facts of your case, even if some facts do not reflect well on you; your lawyer needs to know everything in order to properly defend you. Things you should always disclose to your lawyer include your criminal history, any statements you made to the police, and your relationship.

While waiting for your trial to begin, you must make sure that you follow all laws and rules that the court has set for you. For example, if you are required to submit to drug tests, make sure that you do not miss or fail any of these tests! Not complying with the rules means that you could be put back in jail pending your trial. Any new charge can only make you look worse in the court's eyes.

There are many benefits to testifying. For example, jurors often assume that if a person is truly not guilty then that person should be comfortable getting up on the stand and denying it. If you fail to testify, jurors may draw a negative inference: that you are guilty in your criminal case! Lutz residents should feel confident representing themselves to the best of their ability.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Butash Law Group*