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nyc criminal lawyers over 30 years of experienceWe Know How To Win Cases

Spodek Law Group handles tough cases
nationwide, that demand excellence.

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Faced 5+ Years in Prison

People Vs Joseph Amico

Covered by NYDaily News. Las Vegas man accused of threatening a prominent attorney and making vile remarks.

Faced 10+ Years in Prison

People Vs. Anna Sorokin

Covered by New York Times, and other outlets. Fake heiress accused of conning the city’s wealthy, and has an HBO special being made about her.

Faced 3+ Years in Prison

People Vs. Genevieve Sabourin

Accused of stalking Alec Baldwin. The case garnered nationwide attention, with USAToday, NYPost, and other media outlets following it closely.

Faced Potential Charges

Ghislaine Maxwell Juror

Juror who prompted calls for new Ghislaine Maxwell trial turns to lawyer who defended Anna Sorokin.

Why Choose Us

Clients can use our portal to track the status of their case, stay in touch with us, upload documents, and more.

Regardless of the type of situation you're facing, our attorneys are here to help you get quality representation.

We can setup consultations in person, over Zoom, or over the phone to help you. Bottom line, we're here to help you win your case.

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Meet Todd Spodek

WE PROVIDE WHITE GLOVE SERVICE TO CLIENTS
WHO WANT MORE FROM THEIR ATTORNEY

The Spodek Law Group understands how delicate high-profile cases can be, and has a strong track record of getting positive outcomes. Our lawyers service a clientele that is nationwide. With offices in both LA and NYC, and cases all across the country - Spodek Law Group is a top tier law firm.

Todd Spodek is a second generation attorney with immense experience. He has many years of experience handling 100’s of tough and hard to win trials. He’s been featured on major news outlets, such as New York Post, Newsweek, Fox 5 New York, South China Morning Post, Insider.com, and many others.

In 2022, Netflix released a series about one of Todd’s clients: Anna Delvey/Anna Sorokin.

Why Clients Choose Spodek Law Group

The reason is simple: clients want white glove service, and lawyers who can win. Every single client who works with the Spodek Law Group is aware that the attorney they hire could drastically change the outcome of their case. Hiring the Spodek Law Group means you’re taking your future seriously. Our lawyers handle cases nationwide, ranging from NYC to LA. Our philosophy is fair and simple: our nyc criminal lawyers only take on clients who we know will benefit from our services.

We’re selective about the clients we work with, and only take on cases we know align with our experience – and where we can make a difference. This is different from other law firms who are not invested in your success nor care about your outcome.

If you have a legal issue, call us for a consultation.
We are available 24/7, to help you with any – and all, challenges you face.

Queens Arraignment Lawyers

Understanding the Arraignment Process in Criminal Cases

Being released on bail or your own recognizance is a relief, but does not necessarily end your legal problems. You probably are anxious to know when you will get in front of a judge to find out more about the specific charges against you.

The first appearance before a judge is commonly known as an arraignment. Providing judicial oversight, this appearance is in place to prohibit law enforcement from indefinitely confining suspects of a crime.

The time in which an arraignment must take place varies from one jurisdiction to the next. Some states set a specific timeframe; others have an unclear ban to simply prevent unnecessary delay after someone’s arrest.

What to Expect During the Arraignment

For state and federal court, an arraignment is usually the time when you are advised of the charges against you, as well as your constitutional rights. The court may also:

  • Ask if you plan to either use a public defender or hire an attorney
  • Accept your plea
  • Determine whether bail is appropriate and if so, what amount
  • Establish conditions for your release pending resolution of your case. These may include travel restrictions or banning you from having contact from the victim of your accused crime.
  • Set future dates for more proceedings such as reporting back after plea negotiations or to attend a preliminary hearing.

Entering a Plea at the Arraignment

During the early stages of legal proceedings, the court will ask you how you wish to plead for the crime you are charged with committing. This may occur at your first court appearance or a later arraignment that you attend.

Most defendants enter a “not guilty” plea regardless of the charges in the case. Basically, this plea makes more sense, although you could change the not guilty plea at a later date during the proceedings. The same is not true if you enter a no-contest or guilty plea. Some defendants who enter a not guilty plea may change to one of the other pleas after their attorney reaches a deal with the prosecution, if necessary.

Reasons for initially pleading not guilty can vary, but is usually for one of the following:

  • Not have a lawyer at the initial arraignment to receive legal advice on the best way to proceed.
  • No discovery information related to the prosecution’s evidence by the time entering a plea is necessary. The police report is typically part of the discovery and is considered the most important part. Without this report, you may have very little understanding of how strong the prosecution’s case is against you. However, the police report alone is not enough. There might be recordings or photographs considered evidence that may strengthen or weaken the prosecution’s case.
  • Uncertain ramifications from the plea, especially if you attend an arraignment without legal representation, is another reason to enter a not guilty plea. A conviction could mean more than you think, so surrendering your freedom without full knowledge of the consequences is not wise.

Representing Yourself during the Arraignment

There are many defendants who are capable of representing themselves during an arraignment. They can enter their “not guilty” plea and ask the judge to reduce their bail. However, standing there alone is not the best thing to do if you are facing criminal charges.

In some situations, a technical defect within the prosecution’s case might exist. You could have a right to raise the defect as an issue in the case, but only before you enter the plea. Additionally, the prosecutor’s office might only offer the best deals to defendants who decide to plead no contest or guilty during the arraignment.

If this deal is not available at a later date, and you are unware that this policy exists, you might have to face a harsher punishment as the case proceeds.

In addition, some judges are more likely to lower bail when you have legal representation. Self-representation might seem heroic, but you may want to postpone the arraignment by asking for a continuance until you have found legal counsel.

Consulting with a Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you were recently arrested and charged with a crime, consulting with an experienced criminal defense attorney is something you should do as soon as possible. Spodek Law Group has many experienced attorneys who can aid you through the entire court process.

Free Consultation

Testimonials

I was searching for a law firm with some power to help me deal with a warrant in New York . After 6 days I decided to go with Spodek Law Group. It helped that This law firm is well respected by not only the top law firms in New York , but the DA , Judge as well. I...

~Fonder Brandon

5 Stars
It was my good fortune to retain Spodek Law Group for representation for my legal needs. From the beginning, communication was prompt and thorough. Todd, Kenneth and Alex were the first people I worked with and they all made me, and my company Qumana skincare feel comfortable and confident that the team was going to work hard for me. Everything...

~A G

5 Stars
After meeting with several law firms, I chose the Spodek Law Group not only for their professionalism and experience, but for the personal attention given to me right from the initial consultation. It is important to recognize how crucial having the right legal team is when faced with potentially life altering events that impact families and the lives of loved...

~George Cherubini

Spodek Law Group

White Glove Service

We Provide Superior Service, Excellent Results, At A Level Superior To Other Criminal Defense Law Firms. Regardless Of Where Your Case Is, Nationwide, We Can Help You.
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