(Last Updated On: July 28, 2023)Last Updated on: 28th July 2023, 07:20 pm
The federal government has a separate court system. You could face a harsher punishment if you are charged with a crime in a federal court. That is why you need an attorney who has experience representing people who have been charged with a federal crime.
Our Charlotte federal criminal lawyers know how high the stakes are. They will investigate all of the allegations that have been made against you. This will help them build the strongest defense possible.
Charlotte Federal Criminal Lawyers
Why Crimes are Sometimes a Federal Offense
Certain acts are classified as illegal under both federal and criminal law. However, you cannot be charged under both federal and criminal law. You must be charged under federal law or North Carolina law. In most cases, if you are charged with a crime in North Carolina, then it will be considered a state offense.
However, there are some incidents where it may be charged as a federal crime.
The prosecutor will determine whether you are charged with a state or federal crime. It is a good idea to contact Charlotte federal criminal lawyers as soon as you find out that you are being investigated. You will already be prepared if you are charged with a criminal offense.
Charlotte Federal Criminal Lawyers
Common Federal Charges
Racketeering
Racketeering is a type of crime that involves interfering with commerce by using violence or threats. Robbery and extortion are examples of racketeering.
Conspiracy
You may get a federal conspiracy charged if you and another person planned to commit a federal crime, and there is sufficient evidence to prove this.
Federal Drugs
You may get a federal drug if you are caught selling, trafficking or possessing an illegal drug. A drug crime is typically punished under state law. However, if you cross state lines, then you may face a federal charge.
Federal DWI
If you are driving under the influence while at a national park, military base or other federal property, then you may be charged with a federal DWI.
Federal Gun Crimes
There are two main federal gun crimes that you can be charged with. They are felon in possession of ammunition or firearm and possessing a firearm in order to further a crime or drug trafficking.
Child Pornography Possession
If child pornography is distributed across the lines, then you can be charged with a federal crime. You may also be charged with a federal crime if the pornography is distributed outside of the United States.
The Federal Court Process
Federal court has a totally different process than state court. Federal prosecutors are required to have a grand jury. The grand jury has 12 to 23 people on it. The jury will give a federal indictment if they believe that you have committed a crime.
You will have to turn yourself or be arrested after you have been indicted. You will then make your initial appearance in court. You may appear before a federal judge. The judge will tell you about your charges and the rights that you have.
The court may then schedule a detention hearing. The discovery process is the next step. Each side will have the opportunity to present their evidence. Your attorney and prosecutors may come up with a plea deal. You should talk to your attorney before you accept a plea deal.
The pre-trial phase will move forward if you do not accept a plea deal. Your attorney will let you know whether you should admit anything to the court. The next step is the trial. The trial can last for several weeks. Both sides will be able to present their argument. After that, the jury will deliberate. The jury consists of 6 to 12 people. The jury has to unanimously agree guilty or not guilty.
Charlotte Federal Appeals Lawyers
If a defendant makes it to the point after a criminal trial where he is considering the federal criminal appeals process, that means that he has been convicted of a crime and wants to have that conviction reversed. This is no simple task. This introduction to the general expectations During the federal criminal appeals process will show you that an appeal necessitates working with skilled legal representation to find significant errors that happened during the criminal trial. You should be mentally prepared for the potential outcomes to decide whether you would rather pursue some other form of relief via post-conviction motions.
What Differentiates Federal Criminal Appeals from District Court Trials
The district court trial depends on testimony and evidence of the crime presented in front of a judge and/or jury in court. During the federal criminal appeals process, the defendant and the government write and file briefs and motions to argue their points. Instead of questioning witnesses about the evidence presented of the crime, lawyers for both sides in the federal criminal appeals process perform legal research and analysis for potential ways to have the conviction either upheld or overturned.
There are different standards by which the panel of judges in the federal criminal appeals process judges whether the trial court committed a significant error that harmed the defendant’s case in a serious way. The lowest level of scrutiny is an abuse of discretion, which means that the trial court judge just had to make a very unreasonable decision for it to be the basis for an appeal. The highest level of scrutiny by the panel of judges is reviewing the trial court judge’s ruling on an issue pursuant to the appellate court judges’ own interpretation of the applicable law or rule.
Some Misconceptions About Federal Criminal Appeals
Many defendants think that an appeal depends on the judges seeing the evidence a new way or examining evidence that did not make it into the district court trial. This is not the case. The federal criminal appeal depends on the panel of judges considering any legal errors that the defense contends occurred in the district court and prejudiced the outcome of the case.
Understanding the Possible Outcomes for a Federal Criminal Appeal
In addition to the complexity of the legal process, one of the things that many defendants find upsetting about the federal criminal appeals process is that it takes a long time for the case to be resolved. There is no set timeline for an ultimate decision from the panel of appellate judges, although the circuit court clerk does set a schedule for when all of the briefs must be filed. The appellate judges make their final decision on their own time instead of in front of the parties in a courtroom.
Your federal criminal appeal may be successful in getting your conviction reversed, but this could mean that you still have to go through the district court trial process again like it never happened. You may not exactly want this outcome because a new trial could wind up with you being found guilty again because the prosecution can perfect its case against you.
How to Retain Competent Legal Counsel for Federal Criminal Appeals
Before you decide whether or not the federal criminal appeals is something you want to pursue, you should talk to a federal criminal appeals lawyer. One of the major benefits of retaining a knowledgeable federal criminal appeals attorney is that you will find out what possibilities exist for you to pursue a potential federal criminal appeal in your case. This can save you significant time and frustration. Be sure to schedule a consultation with a federal criminal appeals attorney who regularly represents defendants in the federal criminal appeals process because it is a unique and demanding area of criminal law.
Felony charges can seem intimidating, and the penalties for being found guilty are quite serious. Anyone accused of a felony has the right to legal counsel under the U.S. Constitution.[1] The charges can change the trajectory of your career and personal relationships, so having an effective defense lawyer is absolutely paramount.
However, it’s important to understand the different kinds of
lawyers in order to contact the right type of attorney to handle your case. Some research and planning might be necessary, but this will pay off in the long run. This attorney will function as your voice in the federal court system, and the stakes are very high. Make sure you have the best legal representation possible in Charlotte.
The criminal
defense attorney understands the legal codes that govern the federal courts. A felony charge means that your case will be heard in the federal system, which is different than state courts. Even though the defendant is considered to be innocent until proven guilty, the court system is structured in an adversarial manner.
This gives the federal prosecutor a great amount of room to attempt to characterize your personality as someone likely to have committed the crime, for example. Defense against such attacks on your character is one of the many skills that your criminal defense attorney must possess.
Criminal Defense Attorney, Felony Charges
The
federal criminal defense attorney is responsible for protecting your rights during any legal proceeding. This often means defending your case against the federal prosecutor, but it can also imply the responsibility to file court paperwork correctly and within the specified deadlines.
For example, filing a motion must be done correctly, or the case won’t proceed as expected. Additional delays often happen when court documents aren’t filed by the deadline. These small mistakes can have a ripple effect on your case, so it’s important to assess the character of your federal
criminal defense attorney well before you decide to hire this person to represent you in federal court.
Federal Courts, Processes and Protocols
Federal prosecutors have the job of attempting to find the person charged with a felony as guilty beyond any doubt. This puts the bulk of the burden for proving the case on the federal prosecutor; however, these are professionals who often have ambitions that lead them to pursue cases aggressively. They often seek the most punitive
sentences from the federal judges.
The judges also refer frequently to a
sentencing guideline that recommend stiff penalties for federal offenses. In fact, by the time the case gets to court, the government has already used substantial resources in order to mount a serious and convincing case against you. [2] These are the forces that must be defeated in order for you to regain your freedom. The
federal criminal defense lawyer is your advocate in this system; make sure to choose someone who earns your trust and confidence.
Criminal Defense Attorney in Charlotte
The time it takes to level the playing field in this situation can be considerable. It’s important to prepare your defense in a thoughtful and deliberated manner. The defense attorney can introduce you to various strategies while seeking your feedback, for example. This process requires you to have a good rapport with the
federal defense lawyer handling your case. Make sure to interview this lawyer during the initial stages while keeping in mind that this is the person who might have your future in their hands.
Rules and Procedures in Federal Court
There are a variety of rules and procedures that must be followed by anyone facing felony charges. The criminal defense attorney is trained to understand how to follow these court protocols while upholding your rights under the law. [2] The procedural rules cover a range of actions.
This includes filing motions, presenting evidence, gathering and submitting documents, and more. An experienced
criminal defense lawyer understands how to follow these procedures in order to prevent any harm to the case from procedural errors. This is a big part of the system works, so It’s important to evaluate your
federal defense lawyer based on the ability to maintain accurate records and documents.
These rules are significantly different from the processes used in state courts. The state prosecutor often pursues charges against people facing allegations like assault, theft, murder, vandalism, traffic citations and other crimes. These cases often overwhelm the ability of the state prosecutors to pursue them to the fullest degree possible.
The situation is different at the federal level; the federal prosecutor has plenty of time to build an effective case against you. The resources available are also significant, so your
federal defense attorney must meet or exceed the efforts put into the case by the prosecutor.
Criminal Defense Attorney in Charlotte
The
federal criminal defense attorney represents your interests during the legal proceedings and in the federal courtroom. This can be a stressful time of your life, so it’s important to work with an attorney who earns your confidence by explaining the best legal defense strategy for your situation. The questions you ask during the intimal meeting should attempt to reveal the type of person you want to work with on the case.
Some people want to be represented by an aggressive attorney that has a knack for influencing the way people view events, for example. Others might prefer to be represented in federal court by a lawyer with a proven track record of success, regardless of their personality type. This is a very influential decision to make, so think about what type of attorney wins your confidence. Our law firm has the track record and experience necessary to handle the toughest cases, so contact us today.[3]