The Manuelian Law Firm: Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Greater Los Angeles
Many people searching for a criminal defense attorney in California contact R.J. Manuelian. This is because; R.J. Manuelian performs a most important role in the criminal justice system.
Los Angeles Criminal defense attorney
Criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles and throughout California will tell you that criminal law is complicated. There are sophisticated concepts and nuances involved in a criminal case and the legal process is often complicated. If you or a loved one is seeking a criminal defense lawyer, R.J. Manuelian can provide sound legal counsel. He ensures that those accused of a crime receive due process of law and enjoy every possible benefit from his experience.
If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact The Manuelian Law Firm today. Do yourself and your family the best favor possible and contact us to handle your case. To learn more about what you can expect during a criminal court case, refer a reference guide below.
- Criminal Court Case Process
- Appeals Process
Criminal Court Case Process
A criminal defense attorney will provide expert solution to you through the duration of your case. If you are facing criminal charges, it is absolutely essential to employ the services of a criminal defense lawyer. However, make sure the lawyer you choose is someone you can trust. Your criminal defense lawyer should be willing and able to put forth all possible effort to help you defend your case.
Case Referred to District Attorney's Office
After a defendant has been convicted, the case is referred to the District Attorney (DA) of the appropriate jurisdiction for review. After a case has been passed to the office of the District Attorney by the police, it is the obligation and duty of the DA's office to review the case and determine if it fits for trial. A case can be dismissed if there is a lack of evidence or other circumstances; in such cases, charges are taken back, and the defendant is released. However, if the District Attorney’s office chooses to prosecute, then the accused will be formally charged.
Arraignment and Court Appearance
In criminal cases, the first court appearance is called an "arraignment”. At this time, the defendant is given an opportunity to ask for a plea: guilty, not guilty, or no contest. At this stage, a qualified Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer will inform you or someone you care about, which plea would be most beneficial. Towards the end of arraignment, the court usually issues a bail, informs the defendant of the conditions of the bail, and schedules the date and time for the next hearing. If you appear in court with your attorney, you stand a better chance of being released. It is important to have an expert Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer with you during all of your criminal proceedings including a preliminary hearing and arraignment.
Pre-Trial Motion Hearing
A motion is an official request by the defense or the prosecution to the judge to issue an order. There are numerous forms of pre-trial motions, many of which are very complicated. This can include motions to suppress evidence, motions for change of venue, motion for discovery, motions to suppress prior convictions, or motions to discover evidence. All motions must be presided over or heard by the judge before a trial can begin.
Pre-Trial Conference and Plea Bargaining
In a pre-trial conference, the prosecution and the defense may want to negotiate an acceptable resolution to the case, usually through a plea-bargain agreement. A pre-trial conference must be approved by the trial court. A plea bargain is a negotiation between the prosecutor and the defendant to agree to an agreeable disposition of the case based upon a mutual understanding that the defendant will plead guilty. In the event of a plea-bargaining negotiation, a criminal defense lawyer from The Manuelian Law Firm will advise you or a loved one on the potential advantages and drawbacks of agreeing to a plea bargain. If in case, the defendant agrees to the plea bargain, the trial process is dismissed and the case is moved to sentencing.
Trial and Sentencing
At the beginning of the trial, the criminal defense lawyer along with the prosecutor helps choose the jury panel. This selection process is carried out to eliminate any jurors that may be biased. After validations and arguments are presented to the court from both sides, the jury presents their verdict to the defendant, based upon the evidence that has been furnished. In a criminal trial, there are four special verdicts that can be reached: guilty, not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, and guilty and mentally ill. In the happening that the accused is found guilty, a trial will be set to determine the sentencing.
Appeal Process
In a criminal case, the criminal defendant may apply for the decision of the lower courts to a Federal Court of Appeals for judicial evaluation. The appellate must reveal that the court made a legal error that affected the result of the case. If you are in a need of appellate attorney or a criminal defense lawyer in the Los Angeles area, R.J. Manuelian can help. R.J. Manuelian as your appellate attorney can help file an appeal if you or a loved one was wronged in court.
The appeals process calls numerous steps. The appellant will present legal arguments to a panel of three judges presiding over the case in a written document called a brief. The judges exercise their own judgment based upon the record of the trial created by the court. In a criminal case, it is the legal responsibility of the appellate attorney to confirm that the verdict was based on erroneous court procedures. In the event that the prosecution is unable to arrive to a decision based on the validations presented in the briefs, cases are selected for oral arguments, in which the criminal defense attorney presents his case to the panel directly. Each presentation is usually kept short– roughly 15 minutes– and is the basis for the panel's decision on the legality of the verdict already reached.
Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer or Appellate Attorney in Los Angeles
If you or a loved one is seeking the counsel of a criminal defense lawyer, an attorney from the Los Angeles office of The Maunelian Law Firm can help. To schedule a consultation, contact R.J. Manuelian today. R.J. Manuelian handles a variety of criminal cases, including cases involving white collar crimes, federal & state crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, theft & robbery crimes and drug crimes.
