If you’ve been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in California, it’s important to protect your rights to a fair hearing. A conviction could cost you hefty fines and jail time and make it difficult for you to get a job, obtain a loan, or attend the school of your choice. The best way to protect your rights is to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to represent your case.

The California state courts recommend that you have a lawyer represent you in any misdemeanor or felony criminal case where you have been arrested and not released on your written notice to appear, on your own recognizance, or after a deposit of bail.

If you’ve been charged with a crime in California, you have three options when it comes to representing yourself in a criminal trial. You can:

• Represent yourself
• Asked to be assigned a public defender
• Hire a private criminal defense attorney

Representing Yourself is A Bad Idea

Unless you’re a lawyer yourself, representing yourself in a criminal trial is generally a bad idea. Any mistake you make could put your case in jeopardy. The prosecution won’t take you seriously and will have little incentive to negotiate a plea bargain or reduce the charges.

Public Defenders

The 6th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees you the right to legal counsel. If you can’t afford an attorney, you can ask the state to assign a public defender to your case. (You may have to submit a financial declaration to determine if you are eligible for a public defender.)

Public defenders are attorneys with extensive experience in a wide range of criminal law. However, public defenders are in high demand. At any given time they may be handling over 200 cases. They rarely have the time to speak to a defendant about their case.

Hiring an Orange County, CA Criminal Defense Lawyer

To get the best outcome for your case, you need a private attorney. Unlike a public defender, you can choose your own attorney, based on their experience and how well you get along. They don’t have the massive caseloads public defenders must shoulder, meaning they can devote more time and effort to your individual case. Other advantages to hiring a criminal defense lawyer include:

• They understand the law better than you.
• They understand legal procedures better than you.
• They can help you negotiate a plea bargain or lesser charges.
• They will be able to use the evidence in your case better than you.

Speak to an Orange County, CA Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you’re facing misdemeanor or felony charges in Orange County, CA it’s important to find a lawyer with the necessary experience and expertise to effectively defend your case.

Jim Tanizaki is a former Orange County DA turned criminal defense lawyer. He knows the tactics the protection will employ to get their conviction and how to craft effective defense strategies against their charges. This experience gives Jim an edge that few other Orange County, CA criminal defense lawyers possess. His informed legal representation often results in reduced or dropped charges against his clients.

Contact the law offices of Jim Tanizaki through our website or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free initial consultation with a leading Orange County, CA criminal defense lawyer.