Importance of A Defense Lawyer In The Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice defense attorney is critical for every decision from posting bail to the end of the criminal process. Remember, the criminal justice system has three parts-the judge and jury, the prosecutor, and the defense lawyer, each with a specific role. The judge and jury makes decisions based on the facts and the law, considering arguments from both sides. The prosecutor argue the side of the state proving the defendant's guilt. The defense lawyer's role is to argue on behalf of the defendant. The defendant has no burden of proof so you don't need not prove your innocence-simply point out that the state has not established guilt.

The criminal justice system has the ultimate authority over each of us; so fortunately safeguards prevent abuse of the state's power.

• The state must show that a defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes he is charged with.
• No burden is placed on the defendant--you need not present any evidence, testify or give your own version of events. The state may not mention the defendant's decision not to testify and the jury is ordered to not consider it in evaluating your case.
• Many procedures ensure all evidence is accurate and that the correct person is charged with a crime.
• Defendants possess civil rights to ensure they are treated fairly and given an opportunity to argue their case.
• Safeguards, however, are useless without someone to guarantee or police them. This is the job of the defense lawyer.
• The defense lawyer presents all evidence to rebut the prosecutor's arguments and challenges all questionable assertions of facts by the prosecutor to ensure that the high burden of proof is met.
• The defense lawyer challenges procedural errors and may seek to have charges dismissed because of unreliable evidence or testimony.
• The defense lawyer informs the defendant of his rights and defends those rights to ensure they have not been violated.
• The Defense Lawyer as the First Line of Defense for Defendant When Facing the State

It is important for a defendant to obtain the help of a defense lawyer as early as possible. There are many actions a defense lawyer can take to protect and aid a defendant in the early stages that may not be possible as the case progresses.

• The defense lawyer can inform the defendant of his rights at the outset (such as the right to remain silent) so that the defendant is aware of them and can benefit from them.
• The defense lawyer can seek the temporary release of the defendant through bail, allowing the defendant to better assist in the preparation of a defense.
• The defense lawyer can negotiate with the prosecutor to have charges reduced or even dropped.
• In addition, the defense lawyer is able to counsel the defendant on different strategies and arguments that can be used in the case as well as the benefits and drawbacks for each one.
• The defense lawyer works with the defendant and other witnesses to understand the defendant's version of events and to determine an appropriate defense (e.g., alibi, self-defense, misidentification).
• The defense lawyer can provide advice on what plea to enter, whether to accept a plea agreement, whether to waive a jury trial, and whether the defendant should testify on his own behalf.
• The defense lawyer can determine which witnesses to call and how they should be examined.
• The defense lawyer can determine which potential jurors might be biased against the defendant and seek to remove them from the jury panel.