First Things First: Call Your Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately
A California criminal defense attorney should be someone that you contact immediately after being accused of a crime. The process of being brought in to the police station and being formally charged can be overwhelming and can go by like a blur. This is what makes it all the more important to retain the services of an attorney immediately. Remember, it is your constitutional right to be able to speak to with legal representation and this is not a right that you should ignore.
In fact, you could end up making mistakes in your case that could compromise your future and your ability to put this unfortunate situation behind you. Identifying an Orange County criminal defense attorney as soon as possible is one of the only ways to protect yourself, especially when it gets closer to your initial appearance.
Initial Appearance In Criminal Court
Your California criminal defense attorney can appear with you during your initial appearance in court. This usually occurs no later than 24 hours after your arrest. A judge will appoint an attorney if you are unable to obtain one by this point in time, but this would be a public defender and one who might not be as invested in your case as your own attorney.
Having a lawyer to help you can help to pave the path to better understand all of the options in front of you and an attorney to help with the arraignment hearing is recommended because there will be an opportunity for you to plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. Bail is also reviewed at this point in time and it is powerful to have an Orange County criminal defense attorney who knows the law and can help you avoid many of the most common missteps and mistakes during this phase in the process.
Know Your Rights
You deserve to be informed about your rights and prepare to pull together all of the different materials related to your criminal defense. Do not hesitate to consult with an attorney who knows the lay of the land and can jump in quickly to appear during your initial time in court and from there on out.
