Trial: During this stage, each side will present relevant evidence, testimony, and arguments to a judge or a jury to reach a verdict. Here, the prosecutor must prove your guilt beyond any reasonable doubt. Thus, it is essential that a zealous and experienced legal team like Riverside Criminal Attorney represents you. Who will give you the best fighting chance to ensure a victory at trial and protect your freedom.
Voir Dire: Is Latin for "seek the truth". During this stage of the trial, the Judge typically explains the trial process to the jury panel and goes over a general questionnaire with each juror to determine if the juror meets the general qualifications needed to serve on a jury. At the end of the Judge's questions, each side is given an opportunity to challenge a juror for cause. Challenging a juror for cause means a juror has discussed or exhibited a bias that illustrates they cannot properly serve as a juror in your particular case. Both sides are then given a chance to ask follow-up the jury panel questions to determine if those particular jurors are the right jurors for your case.
During this phase, it is extremely important to have a veteran trial attorney like Jonathan Reza, who has conducted over fifty jury trials, by your side during this phase of your trial. During this phase, Riverside Criminal Attorney will equip you with a Defense Attorney who is proficient at objecting to improper questions and excluding jurors who the Prosecutor may be relying upon to unfairly convict you.
Therefore, you will need a lawyer who is familiar with the voir dire process and knows what questions to ask prospective jurors to secure the best possible jury for your case.
Finally, both sides are then given a chance to exclude prospective jurors via pre-emptory challenges. Pre-emptory challenges may be based on anything, other than protected categories such as race, sex, and sexual orientation. Hence, it is important to have a knowledgeable and experienced attorney like Michael who is familiar with the Pre-Emptory process, knows how to exclude prospective jurors who may be unfavorable for your case, and is skilled at keeping and placing jurors who are more favorable for your case.
Impanel Jury: After both parties exhaust their pre-emptory challenges or the parties agree to the selected panel, the Judge will swear in or impanel the jury.
Opening Statements: During this stage both parties are given the opportunity to give an Opening Statement. Opening Statements are the lawyers' first opportunity to address the jury at trial. Because the Government bears the burden of proof, the Prosecutor is given the first opportunity to address the jury. The purpose of an Opening Statement is to give the jury a preview of the case. Opening Statements are supposed to describe the parties, outline the nature of the issue in dispute, and present a concise overview of the facts and evidence. All so the jury can better understand the overall case.
Hence, it is critical to have an experienced and proficient attorney like Michael who will frame the evidence in a way that is favorable to the counsel's theory of the case, highlight the shortcomings in the Government's case, outline what we expect the evidence will actually prove, and instruct the jury to deliver a not guilty verdict at the end of the case.
Government's Case-in-chief: During this stage, the Government will call both expert and lay witnesses to admit evidence that supports their case. And at the end of their case in chief the Government will rest.
As a result, it is extremely important to have a well-practiced Defense Team that is proficient enough to discredit the Government’s witnesses during cross examination. It is also important to have a skilled trial lawyer who knows how to object and exclude improper testimony and evidence. As well as, make the proper motions necessary to dismiss case if the Prosecution does not satisfy their burden during their case-in-chief.
Defendant's Case-in-chief: During this stage, our Defense team outshines most all other criminal defense firms. At Riverside Criminal Attorney, we have taken over fifty trials to verdict. As such, we will investigate your case much more thoroughly than the Government equipping us with facts that the Government is typically not aware of during their investigation. More important, at Riverside Criminal Attorney we are exceptionally qualified at prepping witnesses and clients for testimony, filing the proper motions at trial to exclude unfavorable evidence, getting favorable evidence admitted, and developing and presenting affirmative defenses that will help you win. Ultimately, protecting your rights and freedom.
Closing Arguments: During this stage, each party is given an opportunity to give a Closing Argument. Because the Prosecution bears the burden of proof, the Government is given the first opportunity to address the jury. Then, the Defense is given an opportunity to address the jury. Finally, the Prosecution is given a chance to rebut the Defense’s argument. During this phase, it is extremely important to have an attorney by your side, who has presented a Closing Argument before and is persuasive enough to frame the strongest arguments possible that highlight your innocence so that you can prevail at trial and protect your freedom.
Verdict: After Closing Arguments, the Jury is excused to conducted deliberations in the Jury Room. During this phase, the jury typically selects a foreperson and reviews all the evidence presented. Ultimately, the jury will return with a verdict of guilty meaning you are responsible for the crimes alleged or not guilty meaning that you are not responsible for the crimes alleged.
Sentencing: If the jury finds you guilty, a separate hearing is set, and the Judge will order the Probation Department to complete a Probation Report advising the Judge what punishment you should receive. Typically, at the Sentencing Hearing the Judge will hear recommendations from the Probation Department, the Prosecution, and your Defense Attorney regarding the appropriate sentence. Here, it is equally important to have a skilled Attorney who is able to present factors on your behalf to receive the best possible outcome.
