Hi I’m Chris Morales I have tried close to 100 criminal jury trials in my career and what I wanna do is give you an overview of what you can expect when you go to trial. At the very beginning of the trial the judge will rule on some preliminary matters and then jurors will come in. Potential jurors about 100 of them, you and the prosecutor and the judge will decide which 12 of those jurors will hear the case. Those 12 jurors will render their decision after hearing all the evidence and hearing
all the testimony. After selecting the jury both sides the prosecution and the defense will give opening statements and then the prosecution will put on their case. They will bring witnesses to trial, they will submit documents, they will put on their case. Your attorney of course will have the chance to cross-examine all of their witnesses. After the prosecution rests then the defense has a chance to put on their witnesses an offer and any evidence that they have to buttress their claim that you are innocent of the charges.
After all the evidence is in, the jurors will adjourn to a small room where they will discuss the evidence and testimony. After they have deliberated for a while they will then decide whether you are guilty to the charges or not. If guilty to the charges then you will be sentenced by the judge that’s not the job of the jury. If you would like to discuss the hazards and the risks and maybe the benefits of going to trial please call my office and we’ll set up an appointment.
