A Quick Rundown of Lawyers
Know the Various Roles a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Do for Your Case
People assume that criminal defense lawyers defend guilty people, and thus their role is viewed as a not so flattering one. Be informed though that regardless of your guilty or innocent position, if you happen to be the defendant of a criminal proceeding, a qualified criminal defense lawyer is your most important ally during your case. Defense lawyers have an important role, under the United States justice system for example, as protectors and advocates of the accused, in order to ensure that every person charged with criminal act is given the opportunity to defend himself or herself.
The first and foremost role of a defense lawyer is to protect the rights of the accused. Under the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, the rights of the accused is upheld through the criminal defense lawyers, and they will ensure, as bound by law, to assist their clients in order to make sure that under the United States criminal justice system, these accused are treated fairly.
In specifics, among a criminal defense lawyer’s jobs are to see that the accused are allowed the right to trial by a jury of their peers, that they have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt”, and the right to a speedy and public trial. A criminal defense lawyer can further ensure that his or her client have the right to remain silent, have the right to be free from unreasonable seizures and searches, and have the right to legal counsel.
The Fourteenth Amendment and the case opinions of the United States Supreme Court would allow the application of the above mentioned rights and consequently the United States Constitution would guarantee these rights.
The second most important service of a criminal defense lawyer is to defend the innocent. Every day we see cases that are overturned as a result of an incorrect guilty verdict brought about with new evidence that verifies the incarceration of the innocent individual and thus has served time.
In order to prevent prosecution of those who are wrongly accused, a criminal defense lawyer is diligent in holding prosecutors and police as accountable for every investigation state of each case he or she handles.
Not ony the innocent, but also the guilty are being defended by a criminal defense lawyer, and this is another role of this professional. There are two categories of guilty clients that the criminal defense lawyer would take, and they are those who deny culpability of their criminal doings, and those who accept responsibility of their criminal behavior.
Unlike a judge, prosecutor, or probation officer, a criminal defense lawyer has a great deal of influence on the lives of their clients.