Ravenna Address
121 East Main St
Ravenna OH 44266
Ravenna Phone Number 330.296.8000
Medina Address
60 Public Square, Suite 102
Medina OH 44256
Medina Phone Number 330.722.5151

 

Questions

  What should I do at arraignment?
  What is the difference between a plea of "guilty" and a plea of "no contest"?
  Will I upset the judge by pleading "not guilty"?
  How do I choose a lawyer?
  Why should it matter whether my lawyer is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, if I want my case to be resolved through a plea bargain?
 

Answers

What should I do at arraignment?

The best course of action is to enter a plea of "not guilty", at least until you have a chance to talk to a lawyer. Under no circumstances should you enter a plea of "guilty" or "no contest" without a thorough understanding of the ramifications. It is much wiser to plead "not guilty" and resolve the case later when the exact penalty has been negotiated.

What is the difference between a plea of "guilty" and a plea of "no contest"?

A plea of No Contest is the same as a plea of Guilty, except that it usually cannot be used against you in a civil trial for damages. A sentence for a plea of No Contest will be identical to a sentence for plea of Guilty.

Some judges will not accept No Contest pleas in felony cases.

Will I upset the judge by pleading "not guilty"?

No. Most judges respect the fact that people hire a lawyer to handle their case, as it makes the entire process much smoother.

Defendants without lawyers and lawyers who are not very experienced tend to clog up the system to the dismay of the judges.

Ultimately, the case may be set for a Trial, either to Judge or to Jury. In felony cases, a jury trial is scheduled automatically.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Common sense prevails. Choose an attorney who has extensive experience and whose practice focuses mainly – or exclusively - on the field of law you need help with. Check his/her credentials.

Make sure this attorney is also familiar with the court system and the courthouse you need to appear in. When your attorney knows the clerks, judges, the prosecutors and specific procedures in place in a courthouse, he is more likely to know how and when to approach them to get the best results.

Why should it matter whether my lawyer is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, if I want my case to be resolved through a plea bargain?

Most criminal cases are resolved without going to Trial. Your chances of successfully resolving your case however are much greater when you are represented by a highly skilled trial lawyer who is known to be a tough opponent in the courtroom. If the prosecution knows that your lawyer is inexperienced or lacks trial skills, they will be much more reluctant to negotiate a favorable solution.

 

If you need the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Portage County, Summit County or Medina County, or elsewhere in Northeast Ohio, contact Attorney Dan Weisenburger right now at 330-296-8000. Attorney Weisenburger routinely defends criminal charges in the following courts:

  • Portage County, Ohio: Ravenna Municipal Court, Kent Municipal Court, Portage County Court of Common Pleas, Portage County Juvenile Court.
  • Summit County, Ohio: Akron Municipal Court, Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Court, Summit County Court of Common Pleas.
  • Medina County Ohio: Medina Municipal Court, Wadsworth Municipal Court, Medina Court of Common Pleas.
  • Trumbull County, Ohio: Newton Falls Municipal Court, Warren Municipal Court.
For a list of jurisdictions served by the municipal courts and county courts in Portage County, Medina County, Summit County and Trumbull County, click on the arrow.
All crimes in Ohio are strictly defined by law. For a list of definitions of the most common felony and misdemeanor offenses, click on the arrow.
Disclaimer: The ohiocrimelawyer.com website is designed for general information only. Any information on this site is not to be construed as formal legal advice on criminal or DUI defense, nor formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek personal advice regarding their individual legal issues.
Copyright © 2007 Weisenburger & Gaeckle, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Last Modified: August 18, 2007 11:21 PM