Federal agents and prosecutors are zealous in prosecuting criminal charges against both people and businesses in and around El Paso for a wide variety of offenses. These types of cases might include drug and immigration crimes, conspiracy, money laundering and even crimes involving terrorism. A defendant can face the rest of his or her life in prison and excessive fines. If you’re arrested by federal authorities in or around El Paso, you’re be needing an experienced and effective El Paso federal criminal defense lawyer on your side of the case.
Anticipating the Prosecution’s Moves
We’re passionate about protecting and invoking the rights of every one of our clients in the federal criminal system. Our approach to criminal defense law is aggressive and strategic. Every angle of the prosecution’s case is scrutinized, and we rely heavily on our experience with the U.S. Department of Justice to anticipate what the prosecution will try to do next.
Our Approach to Federal Criminal Defense
Whenever we undertake the representation of a client, our objective is to obtain a satisfactory disposition before actual charges ever get filed. If circumstances don’t allow that, we work at completely dismantling the prosecution’s case. Here are just some of the things that our approach to federal criminal cases includes:
- Interceding in the Investigation: Once we’re retained, we’re going to let the prosecution know that we’re around and on your side. That avails us to information that we might not otherwise be privy to. We’ll start building your defense with that information.
- Objective Evaluation: This is when we start holding the prosecution to its burden of proof. We protect and invoke your constitutional rights. We won’t allow misinterpretation or misapplication of the law. Any evidence in your favor will be used in your favor.
- Obtaining Bond. Only a small minority of people who are charged with federal crimes are flight risks. If you’re charged, we want a reasonable bond set.
- Working Toward Dismissal: Time and time again, we’ve been successful at getting charges against a client dismissed before trial.
- Trials: We make the prosecution prove every element of its case against a client. We can give a jury plenty of reasons to find reasonable doubts in the case against you.
El Paso Federal Criminal Lawyers
Types of Crimes
We use this same process in every case that we’re retained on. With our broad range of experience, here are just some of the types of cases that we represent clients in:
- Drug crimes involving possession, delivery and distribution.
- Conspiracies.
- Health care fraud.
- Money laundering.
- Securities fraud and insider trading.
- Human trafficking.
- Computer crimes.
When Your Rights Have Been Violated
We have decades upon decades of complex federal criminal defense experience, and we have a strong record of obtaining favorable outcomes for our clients. We’re not going to recommend a bad plea agreement either. We only recommend such agreements when they’re a viable alternative. Our El Paso federal criminal defense attorneys are going to thoroughly investigate your case and leave no stone unturned. If we believe that your rights have been violated, we’ll be bring a motion to suppress evidence on your behalf. When we take the evidence out of the prosecution’s hands, they’ll be far more amenable to either a plea agreement that operates in your favor or an outright dismissal of the charges against you.
After being arrested, what you may or may not do is important as to how the case develops. Years of your life could be on the line, so it’s pivotal for you to realize that whatever you say or do could be used against you. No matter what federal agents tell you, invoke your right to remain silent. At the same time, invoke your right to contact our offices, and speak with an El Paso federal criminal defense attorney right away. With our extensive experience, we’ll know how to get the best possible resolution of your case.
Key Facts About the El Paso Federal Criminal Lawyers Process
There are basic aspects of the El Paso federal criminal appeals process that are sometimes unclear. This is primarily because the process is not what most people would expect. For starters, most of the time it doesn’t actually involve in-person contact. In fact, approximately 75 percent of cases are resolved on brief. This means parties involved submit briefs that are reviewed by appellate judges who issue a ruling. Yes, there’s the other 25 percent of cases in which oral arguments may be heard, but there is only a slight chance of that happening.
The purpose of aEl Paso federal criminal appeal lawyer is to challenge an order or judgment made by a district court by presenting the alleged legal error or issue to an appellate court. This does not include hearing or re-opening the facts of the case. For clarification, it’s important to know that an appeal and a trial have very little in common, if anything. As mentioned previously, most federal criminal appeals are resolved on brief without there ever being any in-person interaction. This is an aspect of the process that some people find difficult because there’s an assumption that oral arguments will always be made.
When you’re dealing with a district court case, there’s a good chance that a jury, witnesses, and a court reporter will be involved in the process. Not so with a El Paso federal criminal appeal. That’s because federal appellate courts serve a different purpose and they are not courts of record. Their job is to analyze the merits of a case based on the information presented in briefs and sometimes in oral arguments. In other words, it’s not a retrial and no new facts about the case will be heard. However, there is a considerable amount of effort that goes into examining whether any legal errors were made during the trial as alleged.
From a procedural standpoint, a notice of appeal is submitted within ten days of the conviction for the purpose of notifying the appellate and district court of the intention to appeal. Since the process must start quickly, it’s necessary to hire an attorney as soon as possible. This should be an appellate lawyer that’s knowledgeable and experienced; if for no other reason than to ensure they are able to write an exceptional brief. If you work with a lawyer that’s adept at oral arguments, but not writing appellate court briefs, you minimize your chances of winning an appeal. Keep in mind that they will also need to have good research skills given the importance of precedence when dealing with appeals.
El Paso Federal Appeals Lawyers
If you are unable to retain an appellate lawyer or your trial lawyer is unable to represent you during the appeal, you can have them file either a notice of appeal or a pro se notice on your behalf. The purpose of a pro se notice is to inform the court that you will be filing a notice of appeal with the help of counsel. You can actually find a federal notice of El Paso appeal online if it becomes necessary in order to submit the form within the ten day period. Although legal processes can seem complicated and intimidating, it’s relatively easy to submit a notice of appeal.
As you embark upon the appeals process, you should have realistic expectations concerning the amount of time it will take, which can be anywhere from months to years. Keep in mind that the process requires appellate judges to review many of the case files in order to make a decision about whether a legal error occurred. There are hundreds of cases reviewed and most of them will take a considerable amount of time. If you want to get an estimate on the approximate timeframe, you can get general information through the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. While it takes an average of a year to receive a ruling, the timeframe varies depending on where you’re located.