Every person accused of a crime is entitled to a jury trial. The government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A skilled Atlanta criminal defense attorney is essential in this process.

Even a misdemeanor conviction can have serious and long-lasting repercussions in your life. An experienced criminal defense lawyer like David Schnipper can help you understand your rights and the criminal process. Learn More.

Arraignment

The arraignment is your first appearance in court after being charged with a crime. A judge will read the charges against you and explain your rights. The judge will also decide whether to release you on bail. The judge considers the severity of the charge, your ties to the community, your criminal record and other factors when making their decision.

A Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney can file motions before or at arraignment that could make the difference in your case. You do not want to leave anything up to chance in a criminal case, especially one that could have serious and long-lasting consequences on your life. Your attorney will wage a vigorous defense against the charges brought by the prosecution. Your case will then proceed to the discovery phase.

Discovery

A sex crime conviction in Georgia can result in long term prison time, fines and lifetime registration on the sex offender registry. A qualified criminal attorney can help you fight your case to avoid these serious consequences.

Your attorney will assess the state’s evidence and begin interviewing witnesses to build a defense of reasonable doubt. Your lawyer can also file motions throughout the course of your case. These legal documents can request information from the opposing party such as phone logs, emails and social media accounts.

Your criminal lawyer will argue that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof. The law requires a high standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt for all crimes. A criminal attorney can help you raise several possible defenses.

Plea Agreements

Depending on what your criminal defense attorney learns during discovery, it may be in your best interest to enter into plea negotiations with the prosecutor. The goal of these discussions is to get you a better sentence than what the judge would hand down if you were convicted after a trial.

Plea agreements are often necessary in order to avoid incarceration and protect your reputation. In addition, a plea deal can be used to save you money on expert witness fees and other costs related to your trial.

However, it is important to remember that entering a plea means giving up your right to a jury trial. Having an experienced criminal lawyer working on your behalf can significantly increase your chances of a successful outcome.

Trial

If you are charged with misdemeanor theft or felony property crimes, a Georgia criminal lawyer can help. A conviction of any type of theft can result in serious monetary fines and jail time. It will also leave you with a permanent criminal record that can impact your future, including eligibility for housing and employment.

As an experienced criminal defense attorney, Manal Chehimi can help you avoid conviction and protect your rights. She can assess all the evidence in your case, and challenge it through strategic motions. She has experience in almost all the state and federal courts in Georgia, as well as handling both local and federal criminal cases, and can use her knowledge to fight for your best results. She is prepared to defend you even if it means going to trial.

Sentencing

In some cases, a criminal lawyer may be able to negotiate with the prosecution to have charges reduced in return for community service, alcohol or drug treatment programs, anger management, etc. A skilled lawyer knows how to make persuasive arguments for these options.

A Georgia criminal defense attorney who has experience in local courts is familiar with how prosecutors and judges approach different types of cases. Often, this knowledge can help your lawyer to develop arguments that are most likely to win. A good way to evaluate an attorney’s ability is by looking at their online reviews and case results. There are also several consensus attorney rating lists, such as Martindale and AVVO. These ratings are based on peer endorsements, client reviews and other information about the lawyer’s skill and ethics.