Yes, sometimes desperate people act irrationally, like trying to make something happen in their Assault, Harassment or Domestic Violence criminal case. Generally, this results in a violation of the Protection / Restraining Order charge, the commission of a new offense, or spoiling a witness. You can avoid this tendency by hiring someone you really trust, and then staying out of their way.
After 23 years of criminal law representation, I have seen hundreds of clients in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson County. Most are enjoyable to work with and don’t interfere once they’ve hired us. I consider it an honor to have their trust and work hard to find them the best resolution of their criminal charges. Lately though, I have seen more people doing crazy things in their criminal case as they find it impossible to sit by and let me do my job. They are desperate to see something occur, and this feeling of desperation hurts them in the end.
When someone is charged with a crime in Denver, Adams or Pueblo County, they need to find a lawyer they can trust, and then trust that lawyer. This does not mean they have to sit idly by, but it does mean they need to stay out of the way and not make matters worse. A good balance is a client who asks how they can help with their case, and being faithful to perform the task discussed. Additionally, it is always a good idea to meet with your attorney every month or so, and see what input or assistance you can provide. Never let more than a month go by without checking in with your attorney, even if it is to just get a progress update.
A Criminal case is often decided on little, unpredictable events. One of the most valuable things a lawyer does is to use his or her experience to help the case move in one direction or another. As a result, communications with witnesses, a victim, district attorneys, and court clerks needs to be screened by the defense attorney. Seemingly insignificant letters, calls or conduct by our client can disrupt the course of a case. Recently, I had a client’s mother who insisted on forwarding my emails to pretrial services and treatment professionals (who could then send them to the DA). In court, she gave a copy of an evaluation to the District Attorney. Each of these communications were dangerous and disruptive to the coordinated flow of information I tried to establish.
We are trustworthy criminal defense lawyers available to help when you are accused of a crime. Always be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call our experienced attorneys at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.