Criminal Defense Law Firm Denver CO
Our criminal defense law firm serving Denver CO will tell you that the presumption of innocence is a staple in the judicial system; but when you are facing a possible criminal conviction, it can feel like the world is out to get you. Unfortunately, your skewed perception can lead to one of the worst decisions you can make about your trial: self-representation. While there are plenty of reasons to never represent yourself in a criminal case, six reasons lead the pack. This is a primary reason to consider Richard J. Banta, P.C. a Denver, CO criminal defense law firm you can depend on.
- Education
First, are you a lawyer? Most likely, you are not licensed or certified to practice law, meaning that you did not go through the extensive schooling required for a law degree. Lawyers do not just up and decide to be attorneys in a day. They dedicate years of their lives to acquiring the education and expertise to practice law.
- Extended Timeline
Next, if you choose to represent yourself, expect to wait a long time for your trial to begin. As a pro se defendant, you will not be given priority treatment. A Denver, Colorado criminal defense law firm shares that the court system is busy, and by choosing to represent yourself, you will likely be pushed to the bottom of the docket.
- Bias
Another reason you should never represent yourself is that you come to the case with a built-in bias. While understandable, having a bias means that you do not see the case from every perspective, which may lead to reckless and poor decisions, especially when it comes to plea arrangements. Richard J. Banta, P.C., a Denver CO criminal defense law firm is better equipped to look at your case objectively. We can legally advise you if we believe you are making a mistake.
- Negotiation Skills
How are your negotiation skills? Sometimes the best way to avoid lengthy judgments is through plea deals and negotiations. A defense attorney at our criminal defense law firm based in Denver CO is often more capable of arguing for a lesser sentence. Also, a prosecutor is often more willing to negotiate with another attorney.
- Interview Skills
Next, are you prepared to cross-examine witnesses? Do you know the protocols for such questioning? It can be challenging to question witnesses in your case because you may feel that they are lying, which can create an antagonistic line of questioning and even insults, neither of which is OK in a court of law.
- Paperwork
Last, the court system is a bureaucracy. Therefore, there are a significant number of deadlines and paperwork throughout the trial process that a Denver CO criminal defense law firm can help you with. Missing deadlines or forgetting to submit documentation can result in substantial penalties, and you have no excuse to fall back on as your own defense team.
While it can feel like the world is out to get you when you are arrested, know that representing yourself in a criminal trial is a mistake. Instead, contact Richard J. Banta, P.C., a Criminal lawyer in Denver CO to discuss how to move forward with your case.