Trial

If you have been arrested, then your case will be handled through Pennsylvania’s legal system, starting from a preliminary arraignment to a trial and sentencing. The justice system is confusing, and you will need the assistance of a Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney to guide you through it.

But, there is very little chance that your case will go through every single step of the proceedings. It can get settled at any point in time. You have the right to a jury trial if you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor (apart from the case of DUI).

Assuming things about a case shouldn’t be done. Plus, it is always advisable to hire professional help so that you can get the best advice. Cases need personalized and aggressive advocacy so that your rights are protected. So, do not delay in hiring an experienced and reliable Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Lawyer. Only he or she can get you out of this kind of complicated situation.

• Your case is bound to go for a trial if you plead not guilty to the offense.
• Your prosecutor and attorney will choose a jury panel which will be made up of 12 of your peers. The defense, as well as the prosecutor, will be able to strike, or remove, jurors whom they do not want to be there or whom they think will be unable to remain impartial during the trial. Choosing the panel can take hours and even days, in some cases. The trial can begin only after the jury has been selected.
• During the trial, both the parties, the defense and the prosecution, will be able to call witnesses, present their side of the case, and so on.
• Both the parties will have the right to cross-examine the other party’s witnesses.
• Both the prosecution and defense parties will also present their closing arguments. They will try their best to please the jury so that the case works in their favor.
• The jury will consider the evidence presented by both sides before coming to a conclusion. They will withdraw to another room to discuss the case and make their decision.
• When they have made their decision and return to the courtroom, the jury foreman will read the verdict aloud.
• After the verdict is read, the judge will either let you go, if you were found not guilty, or sentence you, if you were found guilty.

The judge will give instructions to the jury before they leave the room to deliberate, and will go through the various laws associated with the case. The judge will also advise the jury to be open to ideas and opinions and to listen to other people and at the same time, not let the opinions of their fellow jurors overpower their own thoughts. They shouldn’t be stubborn but also shouldn’t let other people influence their thought process.

In some cases, if the prosecutor agrees to it, you might decide to ask for a bench trial where the judge is the one to decide if you are guilty or innocent, rather than a jury trial.

You should always get professional help for getting the best advice. An experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney will not only guide you throughout the procedures of a trial but will also prepare a solid defense so that the case turns to your favor.

If you have been charged with any crime in or around the city of Pittsburgh, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Logue Criminal Defense team serves Pittsburgh, PA, and the surrounding areas, including West Virginia and Ohio. To get in touch and schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Pittsburgh Criminal Defense lawyer from Logue Law Group, call us today at 844.PITT.DUI or 844.PITT.DUI. Or, you can contact us online.

Don’t wait to call! The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more difficult it becomes for him or her to get a good outcome for you and your case. Call today!