Draft for you to change.
We prepare every case as if it will be tried. Prosecutors make better offers to lawyers they know will go to trial, and when a case should be tried, we are ready.
How a trial works
- Jury selection. The judge and the lawyers question prospective jurors. A felony jury has 12 members; in local criminal courts a misdemeanor jury has 6.
- Opening statements. Each side outlines what the evidence will show.
- The prosecution's case. The prosecution calls its witnesses; we cross-examine each one.
- The defense case. You never have to testify or call witnesses. The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. Whether you testify is your decision, made with us.
- Summations. In New York the defense sums up first, then the prosecutor.
- The charge and deliberations. The judge instructs the jury on the law. The verdict must be unanimous.
You may also choose a trial before a judge alone, without a jury. We discuss with you which is better in your case.
What we do
- Build the trial binder: witness outlines, prior statements, exhibits and the law, tabbed and indexed.
- Visit the scene, measure it and photograph it.
- Work with experts where the case turns on forensic, medical or technical evidence.
- Prepare you for every day of trial, including what to wear and what to expect.
Tom: photo to shoot: a close-up of a marked exhibit sticker on a photograph; the trial binders with coloured tabs; a courtroom door.
Results
We try cases before juries in Yates, Steuben, Ontario and Wayne Counties. See all past cases.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.