6 Things Your Criminal Defense Attorney Needs to Know

Before a defendant engages a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey, it’s important for him or her to assess the criminal attorney’s experience. Criminal defendants in state or federal courts to be tried by juries have specific rights.
Each defendant’s jury must be fairly selected from an appropriate cross-section of residents. The criminal defense attorney must enforce this right when it comes to his or her client’s interests. This article is about 6 things a criminal defense attorney needs to know about cross-section challenges.
1. Your criminal defense lawyer needs to know that you expect fair jury selection. This right is granted to you in the U.S. Constitution and via statutory authority.
2. Your criminal defense attorney should know that the court analyzes cross-section claims according to the U.S. Constitution’s 6th Amendment. Courts generally adhere to the same standard to evaluate claims arising under New Jersey state statutes.
3. Your criminal defense attorney adheres to timing requirements for state cross-section claims.
4. Your criminal defense attorney needs to know that, in most cases, a cross-section claim is initiated with the request for discovery.
5. Your criminal defense attorney needs to know that, after he or she obtains discovery, it’s necessary to establish sufficient establishment of a violation of your fair cross-section rights.
6. Your criminal defense attorney needs to know that it’s possible to measure disparity in several ways. The U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t decided the methods he or she should use.
Your criminal defense attorney must have the experience and understanding of how to defend your rights to a fair trial from start to finish. Unfortunately, media outlets often try criminal defendants in the court of public opinion before the jury is selected.
If you or someone you love has been charged with a serious crime in New Jersey, you need an experienced and knowledgeable defense attorney who will defend your rights to the full extent of the law. Contact the New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorneys & Trial Lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. to schedule an initial case evaluation.