If all a court appearance entailed were what you see on Law and Order, you may very well not need a lawyer to represent you. You know the facts and circumstances of your own case better than anyone. However, the parts that they don’t show, the negotiation with prosecutors, case evaluations, and pretrial conferences are what actually wins or loses 9 out of 10 cases. This is where having a dedicated lawyer, and not one who is court appointed, can win your case. It can even save you time and money. For example, if you do not have an attorney you must show up to court to be arraigned, whereas if you have one this can usually be rolled in with a pre-trial conference, reducing total court time.
What happens at the pre-trial conference depends on whether your case is civil or criminal. Generally in a criminal matter this is the appropriate time to negotiate a plea bargain, attempt to get the charges dismissed, or set bond conditions if necessary. In both civil and criminal matters important dates are set, and there is an opportunity to assess the strength of each party’s case. A pre-trial conference is one of those procedural aspects of the law that can be at worst very scary, and at best a huge hassle if you are not familiar with the political process. An experienced attorney can turn this hearing into an opportunity for you. Our attorneys are regulars at metro Detroit courts and know the judges, prosecutors, and city attorneys who will be assigned to your case. We can put this experience to work for you and attempt to negotiate an early settlement saving you time and money.
What is a pretrial conference Michigan: To retain Garmo & Kiste, PLC call us at (248) 398-7100 for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.
