Louisiana Criminal Defense Legal Questions

This case is not so simple as to just pay a fine and walk away. This is a criminal matter, and the judge can give each of these people jail time and or a fine . The judge may also grant probation to avoid jail time if this is a first offense, etc. Also, most just district attorney's have a pretrial intervention program where you can also avoid trial and jail by finishing their program Attorney George E. Downing, Jr.... Read More

Unlike firing a paid attorney, you need a reason to fire your public defender. The fact that you don't like him or do not feel (s)he is doing a good job for you may not be enough. A judge is more likely to permit you to change public defenders if your current lawyer is somehow violating your right to adequate representation. Some evidence of that could be: (5) Missing appointments or filing deadlines, (6) Not informing you about your case status or hearing dates, (7) Forcing you to enter a plea, or (8) Ignoring important evidence. To change your public defender, you generally need to write a letter to the judge in your case or contact the public defender's office, depending on the rules in your state. Make sure you keep good notes of what you believe to be the biggest problems with your attorney. There's a chance a judge will grant your request if you have good reason to change public defenders. But they're unlikely to grant a second request, so make sure you really do need a new lawyer. Before you file any paperwork, make sure that you talk to your current public defender. Sometimes the issue isn't that your attorney isn't doing the work, it's a communication problem. Tell your attorney about what is making you unhappy, and see if something can be done to change it.... Read More

If your friend could persuade a judge or jury that this was an accident, she would be acquitted. I assume she signed a confession, so she would have to deal with that too. However, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she took the shoes/bracelet with the intent to steal them rather than inadvertently walking out with them. Was there a security camera recording the incident? Was the statement she signed in English and, if so, did they have an interpreter or anyone to translate it for her? These are the kind of things a lawyer would have to investigate. But she should definitely get a lawyer.... Read More