When you face criminal charges, you have the legal right to a trial. The court uses the trial to hear the evidence and decide how to respond to the charges – guilty or not guilty. If you have a criminal trial coming up, how can you get ready for it? You can work with your criminal defense attorney to prepare for this event. Here are some of the things you might want to do to get ready for it.
Understand the Jury Process
Most criminal trials have juries. The jury is made up of random people from all different backgrounds and demographics. These individuals hear your case and must follow the legal rules of deciding your outcome. They must listen to the facts and evidence and decide if you are guilty or not guilty. This decision is a major event for the jurors, and they must take it seriously. Your lawyer will have a say in who serves on the jury, and you will spend at least one day going through the juror-selection process.
Develop a Strategy and Plan with Your Attorney
Preparing for your trial also requires developing a strategy and plan with your criminal defense attorney. Your attorney will determine how to proceed with the strategy based on the case, the evidence, and their experience. Creating the plan is a vital step in the process, and your lawyer might spend a lot of time working on it.
Decide if You Will Testify
The next way to prepare for your criminal trial is to decide if you will testify at it or not. You have the right to decide whether or not you testify at your trial. You should discuss this with your lawyer before deciding which way to go.
Learn the Legalities
The other way to prepare for your trial is by learning the legalities of criminal trials. It might be helpful for you to learn some of the legal language commonly used. You might also want to learn the basics about the burden of proof and how this works. You can spend time with your attorney learning these things and asking questions to help you get ready for your trial.
These are just a few things you can do to get ready for your upcoming criminal trial. If you need legal help for your case, make sure you hire a good criminal defense attorney for assistance.
For more information reach out to an expert such as Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C.