Trial Experience Matters…

Trial Experience Matters!

Criminal Defense Attorney - Criminal Attorney - Trial Experience
Attorney Karren Kenney defending her client in court. Image taken from KABC News Broadcast.

 

Picture this: you have been charged with a crime and are facing what could be a significant amount of time behind bars. Your only choice is to hire an attorney who would be responsible for convincing a jury of 12 strangers that you didn’t commit the crime that you have been accused of. If the attorney is not successful, your life takes a complete turn as you have to begin telling your family, friends, coworkers, boss and other people that you are not going to be around for some years. It is pretty safe to say that you are going to try and hire the attorney with the most trial experience.

 

Having an attorney who is well versed in trials is invaluable to any case. They know what to look for, when to object, they have the lay of the land in the courtroom, and they’re the best defense system that a defendant could hope for. Trials can last anywhere from a week to three weeks depending on the complexity of the case, the number of defendants, and the number of witnesses. Over this time period, the defense attorney has to work to convince a jury that their client has been charged with a crime that they either did not commit or that there was some other reason behind the crime.

 

Far too many attorneys are either lacking in trial experience or are simply unwilling to put in the time and effort it takes to successfully and competently present a case in Court. For a person who is potentially facing time in jail or even prison, such an attitude can change their chances at living their life in the free world or behind bars. The effects of a successful attorney can be seen in cases such as OJ Simpson’s case or, more recently, Casey Anthony—these high profile cases where the defendant was not convicted of the crimes they allegedly committed show that a well planned defense strategy and a great criminal defense attorney with lengthy trial experience can really make the difference.

 

Those two cases are more extreme examples where the defendants were found not guilty of the crimes they were charged with. More often than not, however, that does not occur. A successful defense attorney can also help by getting a charge dismissed or lessened which would result in a lower potential sentence for their client. These successes have a direct impact on the quality of life for their clients and their client’s families. If, however, a defense attorney does not have trial experience or is uncomfortable in a courtroom, there can be devastating effects for their client.

 

An attorney with little trial experience or one that is uncomfortable in a courtroom may not know when to object to something the prosecution is trying to bring up in the case. They may not be listening to the witnesses who are testifying and worst of all, they may not be able to convince the jury of their client’s innocence because they re so preoccupied with their discomfort or inexperience in a courtroom. All things said and done, be sure to do your research on the person representing you in court. Make sure that they have had experience in the courtroom and are comfortable and in their element when in a courtroom—your future could very well depend on their competence.

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