How To Avoid Incompetent Defense Attorneys In Chicago
If you think you don't need a good Chicago defense attorney, you might want to think again. The legal system is quite complex and the motivations of some prosecuting attorneys is suspect as evidenced by the recent rape case against some Duke lacrosse players. That case was dropped as it became apparent the prosecuting attorney had seriously breached his authority in pursuing a case without merit. Unfortunately, this happens too frequently and since District Attorney's are elected officials, they sometimes feel political pressure to pursue cases they would not under normal circumstance. It's sad but true that there are far too many cases where an innocent defendant is found guilty and sent to jail for a crime he or she did not commit. The most common causes cited for this outcome, even more so than overzealous prosecuting attorneys, is incompetent defense attorneys. So if you are facing criminal charges in Chicago, don't take them too lightly because you know yourself to be innocent and trust the court will reach the same conclusion. You still need to find an experienced Chicago defense attorney who will defend your innocence. The way the system generally works is that prosecuting attorneys will look at the facts of a case through the eyes of a defense attorney assuming a good Chicago defense attorney will be representing the defendant and if there are too many holes in the case in the judgment of the prosecutor then no charges will be filed or the prosecutor will be more likely to make a deal before trial knowing the chances of winning a jury trial are not overwhelmingly in the prosecution's favor. However, the way the system generally works is not the way the system always works and in some instances an inept defense attorney will try the case. This could be for many reasons. Perhaps the defendant didn't take the time to find a good Chicago defense attorney. Or possibly the attorney is a good salesman but a poor attorney. For the defendant, it doesn't really matter why. The bottom line is these are the cases where innocent defendants are found guilty and sent to prison. A good Chicago defense attorney will be experienced in legal maneuverings and skillfully ask the right questions at pre-trial hearings that will poke holes in the case and make it clear to the prosecutor that it's going to be tough to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Poor defense attorneys either don't know what to do or neglect to represent their clients to the best of their abilities. It's sad but true. Ultimately, it's the defendant's responsibility to select a competent Chicago defense attorney so the point here is to recognize that not all attorneys are created equal and it would be in your best interest to take the time to choose the best possible Chicago defense attorney. |
