Wednesday, April 25, 2007

California Criminal Attorney.

Robert Miller and Associates is a Southern California group of expert lawyers specializing in DUI defense and drunk driving cases, including DMV matters, felony and misdemeanor criminal defense. Our attorneys also handle personal injury and auto accident cases, immigration matters, and civil litigation, we serve all of Southern California with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, Orange County (Irvine/Newport Beach, and Santa Ana), Pasadena, and Riverside.

California DUI Lawyers

Having the best Southern California criminal defense attorneys on your case makes a difference, and so does hiring a good criminal lawyer who knows the courts in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties well. Our experience means that you’ll have access to the best knowledge and education on your side — an informed, experienced criminal or DUI defense lawyer working for you at every step of the way. Our firm offers that level of professionalism in every matter we represent.

When you’re facing a first time DUI, or other misdemeanor or felony criminal defense matter, your case is too important not to get the best, and most expert, legal assistance you can find. We present every defense, every strategy — every piece of evidence in your favor to fight your case.

Our firm knows that people who are accused of a crime are worried about losing their license or driving privilege in drunk driving and DUI cases, their employment, or even their freedom. We know that when this happens people need quick and clear answers to their legal questions. We also often arrange for a bail bond to be posted, or fight for a bail reduction to release your loved one, so that we can defend the case with the client free while we work to defend the case.

We have rightfully earned the respect of judges, prosecutors and police officers as aggressive attorneys who are not afraid to challenge them on tough cases. As a matter of fact, in large part because of our well-deserved reputation, many other attorneys refer their criminal cases to our office for skilled, expert handling.

We handle the following types of matters:

Because we take our responsibility very seriously, we are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — you can email us at info@expertlawfirm.com, or call us anytime day or night, toll free, at (877) 568-2977.

We practice in the following cities and counties in Southern California:

Los Angeles County
Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Angeles Vista, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Big Pines, Burbank, Carson, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Downtown LA, Downey, Eagle Rock, El Monte, El Segundo, Flintridge, Foothill Division, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Highway Highlands, Hollywood, Industry, Inglewood, Irwindale, La Canada, La Crescenta, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lenox, Little Rock, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Nietos, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, Monterey Park, Montrose, Northridge, Norwalk, Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Pearl Blossom, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills Estates, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Signal Hills, Temple City, Three Points, Torrance, Valinda, Van Nuys, Ventura County, Verdugo City, Viewpark, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, Whittier

San Diego County
Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Costa, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Mission Valley, Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista

Orange County
Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Balboa Island, Brea, Buena Park, Capistrano Beach, Corona Del Mar, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza, Cowan Heights, Cypress, Dana Point, El Modena, El Toro, El Toro Marine Base, Foothill Ranch, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Leisure World, Lemon Heights, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Modjeska Canyon, Newport Beach, Orange, OC, Orange Park Acres, Placentia, Rancho San Margarita, Rossmoor, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Silverado Canyon, Stanton, Sunset Beach, Surfside, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

Riverside County
Aguanga, Anza, Arlington, Calimesa, Casa Blanca, Cherry Valley, Corona, Corona Hills, Edgemont, El Cerrito, Gilman, Glen Avon, Glenn Valley, Hemet, High Grove, Home Gardens, Homeland, Hot Springs, Idyllwild, La Sierra, Lake View, Mead Valley, Meadow Brook, Mira Loma, Moreno Valley, Mt. Lanter, Murrieta, Norco, Nuevo, Pedley, Perris, Quail Valley, Riverside, Rodea, Romoland, Sage, San Jacinto, Santa Ana Canyon, Soboba, Sun City, Temecula, Temescal Canyon, Vail Lake, Valle Vista, Wildomar Lake, Winchester

Santa Barbara County
Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Solvang, San Luis Obispo

San Bernardino County
Adelanto, Angeles Oaks, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, El Mirage, Etiwanda, Forest Falls, Grand Terrace, Helendale, Hesperia, Highland, Loma Linda, Lucerne Valley, Mentone, Montclair, Ontario, Oro Grande, Phelan, Pinon Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino City, Victorville, Wrightwood, Yucaipa

Resource: http://www.expertlawfirm.com

Federal Criminal Attorney.

The same general principles apply to hiring a federal criminal defense lawyer as apply to hiring any other criminal lawyer. It is highly recommended that any person hiring a lawyer to assist with federal criminal charges or grand jury proceedings retain a lawyer who has significant experience with the federal system.

The Federal Criminal System

The federal criminal system is in many ways like the state system, but it has some very significant differences. One difference is that the typical United States Attorney's office, responsible for prosecuting federal criminal charges, has significantly more time and resources to direct to any given prosecution than would a state prosecutor. Federal prosecutors also typically have better academic credentials than state prosecutors, and many have a great deal of latitude in selecting the cases they wish to prosecute through the federal courts. Save for crimes which occur on federal land, those cases which fall exclusively to the jurisdiction of a federal prosecutor tend to be of an interstate nature, and are more likely than a state prosecution to be legally and factually complex.

As a result, federal criminal defense tends to involve cases which are more difficult to defend, and the cost of defense is often very high. In each federal jurisdiction there is also a Federal Defender's office, which can provide legal representation to indigent defendants.

Federal Criminal Investigations

If you are contacted by the federal authorities in relation to a criminal investigation, the first thing you must attempt to determine is if you are being contacted as a potential witness or as a suspect. The second thing you must determine is what statements you can safely make to the authorities without potentially falling into a trap, such as being charged with lying to federal agents. Consider for example the case of Martha Stewart, who was acquitted of any direct criminal wrongdoing but spent time in prison for making false statements to federal investigators.

A federal criminal defense lawyer can help you assess the nature and purpose of the investigation, and why you are being approached. While you should expect your lawyer to instruct you to provide honest answers to any questions from the federal authorities, your lawyer may be able to guide you around any potential traps or pitfalls. When appropriate, a federal criminal defense lawyer can be present during any questioning, act as an intermediary between you and the investigating authorities, or advise you to exercise your Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. If appropriate, a federal criminal defense lawyer may be able to work out a deal where you will cooperate with the investigation, in return for more favorable treatment when the investigation is concluded. In appropriate cases your lawyer may also be able to secure a letter of declination, in which the U.S. attorney formally declines to prosecute you in relation to a particular offense or investigation.

Grand Jury Testimony

When a person receives a subpoena to testify before a grand jury, as with an investigation, it is not always apparent whether the person is being subpoenaed as a witness or as a potential target for indictment. As with an investigation, a federal criminal defense lawyer can help a grand jury witness determine the likely purpose of the subpoena, how to avoid potential traps and pitfalls when providing testimony, or when to "take the fifth". The lawyer may also be able to work out a deal for immunity, or for use immunity (meaning that the testimony provided before the grand jury cannot be used to advance a criminal prosecution against the witness), in relation to the testimony.

Federal Criminal Proceedings

It is helpful during federal criminal proceedings to be represented by a lawyer who is familiar with the federal rules of evidence, federal rules of criminal procedure, trial procedure, and the federal court system in general. The lawyer should also be familiar with federal sentencing procedures, and with the recent Supreme Court rulings which affect sentencing. It helps to have a defense lawyer who is familiar with the U.S. Attorney's office which is handling the case, and ideally some familiarity with the federal investigative agency which spearheaded the investigation.

There is no such thing as a highly qualified federal criminal defense lawyer who dabbles in federal court matters. Lawyers either know federal criminal defense, or they don't. If you are involved in the federal criminal system, make sure your lawyer, or at least one of the lawyers who will be serving on your defense team, has extensive experience with the defense of federal criminal charges. As previously noted, federal criminal defense tends to be very expensive. You will be paying for specialized experience - so make sure you get it.

Houston Criminal Attorney.

You thought it could never happen to you, but suddenly you find yourself in a situation that you did not expect. What do you do? Contact Texas drunk driving defense lawyers Jack Carroll or Don Becker to protect your rights! The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles can suspend your license if you refuse to take a breath test, blood test, or urine test. WARNING! You have a limited amount of time (15 days) in which to appeal this administrative license suspension.

When you have been investigate or arrested for any criminal offense such as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), or any Felony Charge, you have an absolute right to be concerned. Facing criminal charges may be one of the most frightening things you have encountered. Some of the possible consequences that can result from a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) conviction include the restriction or loss of a driver’s license, an increase in insurance cost, fines, court costs, and even the possibility of jail. As you can see, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) can be a very serious charge.

The Texas law says that the District Attorney need only to prove that after drinking you were not able to drive your car in a “normal” capacity. That sounds pretty cut and dry, but it is not quite as simple as that.

You see, if challenged, the District Attorney must also show all of the following:

  • That the arresting officer made the arrest properly,
  • That you were properly advised of your rights,
  • That the equipment the officer used to test you was working, accurately,
  • Etc.

Also, the office that administered the “standard field sobriety tests” should have successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Testing studenfst class before administering these tests. We have handled hundreds of (DWI) cases and know every trick and nuance officers use to cause you to fail. Before and at trial we will grade the officers to ensure that he or she conducted the tests properly. If the tests were not conducted properly, this can be disclosed to the District Attorney or the jury to show that the tests results were unreliable and should not be believed.

When you retain Jack or Don, not some underling, we will insist that the District Attorney provide us with the names and address of anyone he plans to call as a witness as well as copies of every written or recorded statements of their testimony. This will allow us to prepare our questions we ask them.

We will insist on receiving copies of any videos that show your sobriety tests, whether in the field or at the station.

We will insist on receiving copies of records showing that the equipment used for test was functioning properly and that the person giving the test was properly certified/

As you can see, what looks simple gets pretty complex. As your criminal defense attorney we will insist that all this information be provided and we will walk through all this information as we discuss and proceed on your case.

DRIVER LICENSE SUSPENSION – Your arrest may have included a cancellation of your Texas driving privileges for a specific period of time. YOU HAVE ONLY 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF YOUR ARREST TO REQUEST A HEARING ON THIS MATTER. We believe that this hearing is extremely important, not only to challenge your suspension but also as an opportunity for your attorney to question the arresting officer to find out exactly what he is going to say in court. If you retain our firm to represent you, part of that representation includes representing you at the driver license suspension. However, remember you must request this hearing no later than 15 days from your arrest so it is important that you contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. If your Texas driving privileges are ultimately suspended, in most cases we can get you an Occupational License that will allow you to drive to and from work.

Criminal Defense Attorney.

The best criminal defense attorneys are not that easy to find. Criminal defense attorneys who are particularly famous and get featured in the front pages for representing so and so doesn't necessarily mean that they're the best in the field as well. Perhaps, their popularity is simply due to their openness to being hired by the highest bidder - no matter if the clients they're about to defend are nothing but GUILTY BEYOND DOUBT.

It's a Case to Case Basis
Always remember that each case filed in the courts is entirely unique from all other cases because it may involve different clients and lawyers and have different causes and settings. For this reason, it's important to remember that the best criminal defense attorneys in other people's opinions may not be the best criminal defense attorneys to entrust with the defending of your rights. The word “best” is a very subjective word and it would do you well to keep that in mind.

Attorneys Characteristics
The following traits and qualities are common to the best criminal defense attorneys. Any attorney who doesn't match ALL of the criteria below can never be considered the best.

They Have Years of Experience
A decade's worth of involvement in criminal defense is enough to qualify lawyers as the best in the field. When searching for the best criminal defense attorneys, make sure that you are hiring lawyers who have the required number of years' worth of experience in whichever state your case has been filed. In short, if your case is being tried at Illinois, you must make sure that you're hiring a lawyer who has great experience in handling criminal defense cases in Illinois. Remember that states have different laws and hiring an attorney who's unfamiliar with state laws may not be able to find loopholes that could get you acquitted.

They Have Fields of Expertise
Criminal defense covers a vast array of crimes but can be divided into four major categories: white collar crimes or corporate crimes, sex crimes, drugs crimes and violent crimes. You should hire the attorney who is specifically considered as the best in the field where your case is categorized. A criminal defense attorney specializing on drugs may not be up to date with the latest bills and laws that affect sex crimes. When you hire a criminal defense attorney with specialized knowledge to defend your rights, you'll be sure that there's nothing the other party knows that YOUR attorney doesn't. Hence the battle of wills will be completely dependent on their ability to present a case. And if you're innocent of wrongdoing, that's the best guarantee you'll get from any criminal defense attorney.

They Naturally Enjoy Above Average Success Rates at Winning Cases.
Experience is not enough to qualify any attorney as the best. An attorney who has been handling criminal defense cases for twenty years will still not be considered as the finest in his field if he doesn't have evidence to back up this claim. And evidence, of course, comes in the form of number of cases won versus number of cases lost. Before paying any legal fee and hiring an attorney, be sure to research the attorney's background and career thoroughly. If possible, find out how he handled his previous cases, what are his strengths and weaknesses and how is he when it comes to handling pressure.

They Respect Their Clients.
Respect is certainly a broad term but rest assured that the best criminal defense attorneys show respect to their clients in every aspect of the word. First of all, they never bully their clients because they respect their freedom of choice. Secondly, they respect their clients' integrity by never asking them to commit perjury - even if it's their skins that are going to be saved. They also show respect by promptly returning calls and addressing needs - no matter if the client is not as affluent as the others.

They Are Aware of Keeping Their Clients Informed
There is nothing as depressing, frustrating and aggravating than having a lawyer who fails to give you updates on any developments on the case. The best criminal defense attorneys aware that clients have a lot at stake on the case's outcome and providing constant updates is one way of showing their concern.

Don't forget to hesitate to grill your prospective lawyer with questions. It's your right…especially when the case has dire consequences.

Criminal Attorney.

If you've been falsely accused of a crime, it's likely you don't think any price is too high to pay for your freedom. But, when money does matter, it's important not to sacrifice the quality of your criminal attorney just to meet a budget.

If you are truly innocent, it's very likely a good criminal attorney can get you off. Going for a discount rate wouldn't be wise, but there are ways to keep costs at a minimum or even recoup them after a win in court. As long as you insist on finding a criminal attorney that displays some basic, but very important, traits, you should be okay with your hire even if his or her rates are less than others.

Should money be an issue in hiring a criminal attorney, consider these things:

* Stay clear of the 'best of the best' if you can't afford them. Instead, settle for a criminal attorney that displays the traits of a good criminal defense lawyer. This means someone with years of experience in the law, a person who has perhaps also been a prosecutor and maybe even someone with a minimal (but existent) track record in trial courts. Newer criminal attorneys are likely to cost less, but that doesn't mean they'll be awful. Trial experience and former prosecution work are vital traits in that they ensure the criminal attorney you're thinking of hiring knows his or her way around a criminal case.

* Consider going with the attorney provided you by the courts if: that attorney has a good track record, shows a genuine concern about you and your case, really seems to believe your side of the story. If these three things are not present, you might want to try and hire a criminal attorney on your own if it's at all possible. Public defenders can be fantastic lawyers, but that doesn't mean all of them are - just like private criminal attorneys.

* Find a lawyer with a good background who is willing to wait on payments until the case's outcome is decided or is at least willing to work with you. Some lawyers will work on a retainer that's fair and wait to recover costs for false arrest at a later date.

* Plan to recover costs if you clearly are not guilty of the crime you've been accused of.

As you look for a criminal lawyer, remember there are certain traits to look for. You want a criminal lawyer who:

* Has experience in the field.

* Understands how the prosecution works.

* Is versed in trial law, as well.

* Is open with the lines of communication and clearly listens to you and your input on the case.

* Treats you like a person and not a 'criminal.'

* Keeps you apprised of the case as it progresses.

* Fights for your side without prejudice.

Finding a good criminal lawyer can be a costly venture, but there are ways to keep it more affordable without sacrificing quality. If you make sure experience and communication are present with your criminal lawyer, you should be okay even if you haven't been able to hire the 'best of the best.'