A criminal defense lawyer
in Mesa, Arizona is your best ally if your case goes to trial. While there are
many reasons that a case progresses beyond the point of negotiations between
the prosecuting attorney and your lawyer, many of the same procedures are followed.
Not knowing what lies in store can cause you and your family a great deal of
grief and anxiety, so understanding what happens when an agreement cannot be
reached and a felony case goes to trial can salvage many sleepless nights and
restless days. Here are a few things you can expect if your case has taken a
turn toward Mesa Superior Court…read on!
Jury Selection
One of the features of a
felony case being heard by a Mesa court is the use of a jury. The process of
selecting these twelve people can be arduous since there are many rules
governing who can be on the jury and who must be excluded. For instance, if a
potential member of the jury has heard of your alleged crime, knows you or the
victim, if there is one, or has said anything that alludes to a possible bias
for either side, the person is immediately dismissed. Both your criminal
defense lawyer and the prosecuting attorney must agree upon all twelve members
of the jury and the selected members will be sequestered for the remainder of
the trial to eliminate the potential for bias.
Subpoenas
While your criminal
defense lawyer was gathering evidence to support your case, he or she
undoubtedly gathered witness statements from people who were on the scene. Once
a case moves forward into a trial phase, these witnesses will receive a
subpoena to appear in court to testify on your behalf. Your attorney will also
subpoena relevant experts to give testimony on the various aspects of your case
from forensic evidence to handwriting experts, and from doctors to audio
analysts. Depending upon your charge and the particulars of your case, your
legal firm can call upon a wide variety of witnesses to support your case.
Bail
Occasionally, accused men
and women are given a court date to set bail. Depending upon the circumstances
of your case and your history, you may have an opportunity to post money on
your behalf to secure your appearance in Mesa court. These proceedings
typically occur in the months before your case is scheduled to be heard and can
be negotiated by your criminal defense attorney.
For more information
about a criminal defense lawyer in Mesa AZ and some of the procedures that lead
up to a felony charge trial, call 480-507-6666 or click on the provided link.
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