Middlesex New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer
With over one hundred years of combined criminal defense and litigation experience, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall represent clients charged with drunk driving, larceny, shoplifting, and simple assault throughout New Jersey including in Woodbridge, Edison, Iselin, and Carteret. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers are available immediately to discuss your criminal charges at (732)246-7126. The initial consultation is always free of charge.
Stages of a Criminal Case: Pre-Trial Conference
The next court appearance after the arraignment is typically a status conference or a pre-trial conference. The pre-trial conference is held to discuss the progress of plea negotiations between the defendant and the State. The Court Rules require that the pre-trial conference be held within sixty (60) days of the arraignment. The rules also allow for multiple pre-trial conferences which is typically the case. At the pre-trial conference, the parties also discuss any outstanding discovery issues that may remain. Finally, there is often a plea-cut off date set in many counties. This means that the plea offer from the State is no longer valid as of a certain date. At that time, the case will almost inevitably move to trial.
In most cases there are several pre-trial or status conferences. These conferences allow defense counsel and the prosecutor to examine the case and the evidence presented and determine the best possible resolution to the case. For example, the initial plea offer from the State is not always the best offer. These status conferences allow defense counsel to “poke holes” in the State’s case in order to potentially obtain a more favorable plea offer from the prosecutor’s office. However, sometimes the offer does not get any better and the defendant must decide whether or not he or she wants to accept the plea deal or schedule the case for trial. It is imperative that you hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to assist you throughout this process.
Contact the experienced attorneys and former prosecutors at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall with any questions or concerns that you have at (732)246-7126.
