California Criminal Court Process

Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer

When you have been arrested, it is crucial that you learn what to expect during the process of your defense so that you can understand your rights and know how to achieve the best possible result. You are legally presumed innocent until proven guilty, but unless you take effective action now by retaining an Orange County criminal defense lawyer to represent your case, it is highly likely that you will be convicted.

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What to Expect After an Orange County Arrest 

Arraignment: Your first court appearance after an arrest is referred to as the “arraignment.” At the arraignment, which may or may not occur while you are in custody, the judge will read you the formal charges, and will ask you whether you choose to plead guilty or not guilty. Having legal representation present at this stage of the process can make a significant difference in the amount set for bail, as your attorney can argue for a lower figure by demonstrating to the judge that you are not likely to attempt to flee the area before your next appearance.

Investigating Your Case: Following the arraignment, your lawyer will begin work on a criminal defense strategy for fighting the charges. This includes meeting with you to ensure that you know your rights, as well as studying the evidence in the case to find out what the prosecutor knows and what the prosecutor does not know. If we can demonstrate that there is not enough evidence to support a conviction, it may be possible to have the charges dropped. We seek to settle a case out of court whenever it is an option, but prepare every case for trial, conducting an exhaustive study of the case and developing the strongest possible defense.