You may believe it is sufficient to represent yourself in criminal court if your charges are minor. Or, you may believe this is the better option so to save money. But it is almost always discouraged to do so. So, before you make any rash decisions, continue reading to learn why it is recommended to hire an experienced Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC to represent you in criminal court.
Is it possible to represent myself in criminal court?
If you are adamant about representing yourself in your criminal court case, you must first get approval from a judge. With this, you must prove that you have the mental capacity to understand the criminal court proceedings you are up against, along with showing that you knowingly waive your right to an attorney. And while you are not expected to have the same level of knowledge as a lawyer, a judge will closely review the following criteria before granting you approval:
- Whether you are of sufficient age.
- Whether you possess a sufficient amount of education.
- Whether you possess a sufficient understanding of the English language.
- Whether you are facing severe charges and penalties (i.e., extended jail time, extensive fines, etc).
Why is it recommended to hire a criminal defense lawyer?
You may be able to get away with not hiring a criminal defense lawyer for your initial arraignment. This is because you will likely just have to speak when entering a plea of not guilty. However, it is highly recommended that you take advantage of your right to counsel for the rest of your criminal court proceedings. That is, a criminal defense lawyer may help you in the following ways:
- A criminal defense lawyer may have a better familiarity with federal and New Jersey state laws relevant to your case.
- A criminal defense lawyer may have a better familiarity with the criminal court system that you are entering for your case.
- A criminal defense lawyer may know the indeterminate sentencing laws in the state of New Jersey that you may want to avoid.
- A criminal defense lawyer may know the collateral consequences of your offense that you may want to avoid.
- A criminal defense lawyer may know how to better reduce or altogether eliminate the penalties placed against you.
It is worth mentioning that, if you happen to change your mind, you may hire a lawyer at any time during your criminal court proceedings. Also, you may consult with a lawyer throughout your criminal court proceedings for sound legal advice.
As you may likely conclude yourself, you may have a critical criminal case on your hands that requires immediate attention. So you should not hesitate in reaching out to a skilled Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC.
