Representing Yourself in San Diego Criminal Prosecution (1)

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Representing Yourselfin a San Diego Criminal
Prosecution

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Why People Consider
Proceeding Pro Se
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You have an absolute right to self-representation
(pro se) in a criminal case however, it is not
usually a wise decision
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Reasons that people may consider proceeding pro
se include
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COST
Some people simply do not have the funds to hire
an attorney however, you dont have to go it
alone.
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The public defender system was created to ensure
that every defendant has access to
representation in a criminal prosecution
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PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Sometimes a previous experience leads an
individual to believe that their previous
attorney did not do a very good job and,
therefore, they might as well represent themselves
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Proceeding without representation, however, isnt
always the best solution to a bad experience in
a previous case
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BELIEF THAT A LAWYER IS UNNECESSARY
People may believe that the law and the penalties
are clear so what is the point in hiring an
attorney?
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An attorney, however, may find a defense to
which you were unaware or be able to negotiate a
more favorable punishment despite what the law
appears to be
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The Consequences
and the Rule
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Be sure that you have a clear understanding of
what is at stake
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The basic statutory penalties do not always tell
the whole story
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Convictions often come with additional
non-judicial consequences
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Courts have rules of court and rules of procedure
that must be followed by anyone practicing in
that court
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No leeway with rules for non-attorneys
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Learning all the rules in a short period of time
is unrealistic
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Discovery
and Plea Negotiations
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During discovery both sides share information
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You must know what the prosecutor is required to
share with you and what you must share with the
prosecutor
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You also need to know how to understand, analyze,
and use discovery
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A minor error during discovery could seriously
undermine your case
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There are no standard pleas offered to all
defendants
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Almost everything is negotiable
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An attorney knows what a prosecutor is likely to
offer and accept
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Should You Ever Represent Yourself?
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The general rule of thumb is the more serious the
crime you are accused of, the more important it
is to have an attorney represent you
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Ultimately, only you can decide if you have the
time to invest and are willing to take the risks
involved in representing yourself in your San
Diego criminal prosecution
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However, it is usually not a wise idea after
careful consideration
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LEARN MORE ABOUT REPRESENTING YOURSELF IN A SAN
DIEGO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION
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www.attorneylombardo.com
Content provided by Best Legal Practices