One of our most important rights in a criminal case is the right to the assistance of counsel. It is through skilled counsel that the defendant enforces his or her other rights, like the right to due process or the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
A criminal charge means that if convicted, you run the risk of incarceration. And, as recent negative media attention stirs up pressure for judges to "get tough on crime," even relatively insignificant offenses are ending in jail or prison sentences. In addition to the possibility of incarceration, a criminal conviction may trigger extensive fines, probationary supervision, loss of driver�s license (even for some non-driving offenses), loss of the right to possess a firearm, etc. In short, understanding what is at stake in a criminal case, you should choose your defense attorney carefully.
