Trial day with your attorney- Fairfax criminal lawyer weighs in

Trial day is showtime, says Fairfax criminal lawyer

Trial day is showtime, ideally when substantial preparation has already taken place by the attorney and his/her criminal defense client. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I know how important it is not only to be fully prepared for trial, but also for the defendant to be as comfortable as possible in the courthouse and the courtroom.

Trial day ideally is not the first time to address critical matters that could have been addressed beforehand

Certainly, items of discussion for the criminal defense team might arise on the trial day that could not have been anticipated before the trial date. At the same time, I work closely with my clients to address as much as we can as early as we can before trial, both so that we may be fully prepared for trial, and so that we may keep our eyes on the prize on their trial date.

Be ready for the prosecution to try to throw off the defense

The criminal defense team must never turn their backs on the prosecutor nor the police and other opposing witnesses. They have their own agenda, and many will not stop at trying to throw off the defense on trial day and all other times, which is fine by me, because I am more than happy to derail the prosecution to the extent that this helps my side and to the extent permitted by governing law, court orders and lawyers’ professional conduct rules.

It is one thing for a party to try to throw off the other, but quite another thing to be underhanded. By not expecting anything good nor upstanding from the opposition (even prosecutors who usually are upstanding can fall off the tracks) on trial day or any other time, the criminal defense side keeps its eyes on the prize just like Russell Crowe as the tremendously successful gladiator winning despite the most mercilessly lethal obstacles thrown his way.

Even if you sweat in court, I will not

The fight for my criminal defense clients’ liberty takes place each moment. Worrying, sweating, and second-guessing my actions has no place in battling in the moment on trial day, which is the unparalleled approach to winning. Even if my client sweats, s/he will sweat less by seeing that I have the right battle plans and am following them.

Letting your criminal defense lawyer work for the best possible results for you

The more a criminal defendant has confidence in his or her lawyer, the less s/he will freak out when the lawyer seems to do something unorthodox or unexpected on trial day. The proof is in the pudding with the criminal defense lawyer’s actions. Seeming elegance by a trial lawyer is useless if victory does not accompany it.

Visit the battleground before your trial date

To feel comfortable in the courthouse, visit the courthouse and courtrooms at least once, and preferably twice, before your trial day. Your criminal defense lawyer can join you and show you the ins and outs of the courthouse on the road to obtaining as much victory as possible.

Fairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan L. Katz purses your best defense against felony, misdemeanor and DUI prosecutions. To discuss your case with Jon Katz, please call his staff at 703-383-1100 to schedule a confidential consultation.