Steps in a Georgia criminal case
Athens GA criminal defense lawyer
If arrested, your first court appearance is at the arraignment. During arraignment, the judge reads the charges filed you in the complaint and you can choose to plead “guilty,” “not guilty” or “no contest” to those charges. The judge will also review your bail and set dates for future proceedings.
A preliminary hearing, or preliminary examination, is an adversarial proceeding in which attorneys questions witnesses and both parties make arguments. The judge then makes the ultimate finding of probable cause. In a grand jury, the jury hears only from the prosecutor. The grand jury may call their own witnesses and request that further investigations be performed. The grand jury then decides whether sufficient evidence has been presented to indict the defendant.
A guilty verdict or a plea bargain results in a conviction and a criminal record is established. The establishment of a criminal record carries with it far-reaching consequences. A conviction can carry a wealth of hidden consequences that can come into play under a variety of circumstances. A criminal conviction can have major repercussions. It can affect the individual on a more basic level when he attempts to seek employment. Federal law and most state agencies now requires background checks and allow disqualification based on conviction in a wide variety of employment areas including education, healthcare services, child and eldercare, financial institutions and transportation. A prior conviction will play an important role in the outcome of all future criminal charges.
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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney
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