Criminal Defense Attorney in San Francisco, CA
Being accused of a crime is a serious matter that can have long-lasting consequences, including jail or prison time, depending on the charges. Still, every person alleged of criminal activity deserves a fair trial and just treatment. Certain rights are guaranteed to all people during the criminal justice process. If you believe someone violated your constitutional rights, don’t stay silent. You can take action and protect yourself.
Be Informed, Know the Law
Before you get too caught up in accusations of this nature, it’s important to understand your rights and the protections you have. If you suspect wrongdoing against you such as an illegal seizure of evidence, denial of legal counsel or denial of a speedy trial, take some time to study these issues. Before you bring a complaint to a judge, you want to make sure your rights were indeed violated and that your lawsuit would have merit based on the law.
Consult an Attorney
If you are involved in a criminal case, you hopefully have hired an experienced criminal lawyer anyway. This legal professional is here to be your advocate and ensure that everyone involved in the process respects and upholds your rights. If at any time you suspect wrongdoing against you or that you are being taken advantage of, speak to your attorney about your concerns. Together, you can build a case and prepare arguments for why the court should throw out evidence, not allow a certain witness to testify, move your trial to another location or dismiss the charges altogether. A skilled lawyer will have expertise in the laws surrounding your case, especially basic constitutional rights. He or she will know whether these rights have been compromised and whether you have a good chance of succeeding in these complaints. Conversely, your attorney will be open, honest and upfront with you if you don’t have a solid case. In this scenario, your lawyer will inform you that what you thought was a violation was indeed within the scope of the law.
Present Before a Judge
If you and your lawyer determine it’s best to move forward with a lawsuit against another party in your case, such as law enforcement, your legal counselor will present this case before a judge. From there, he or she will determine whether your constitutional rights were violated and how that will affect your own criminal case.
Even if you are accused of the most severe criminal crimes, you still have constitutional rights. Be aware of what these are and talk to your criminal defense attorney in San Francisco, CA if you believe you weren’t afforded this protection.
Contact The Morales Law Firm for their insight into criminal defense and what to do if your constitutional rights were violated.