Criminal Florida Lawyer
Welcome to the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inc., the only statewide organization in Florida dedicated solely to the criminal defense attorney. FACDL is a not-for-profit corporation formed exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, and affiliated with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. View our Member Benefits, Mission Statement & Founding Purposes. To make a donation to the Association, please follow the link below!
criminal florida lawyer
Erika Valcarcel is a skilled criminal attorney who has the right knowledge and dedication to defend you against any type of Florida criminal charge, including DUI, drug offenses, sex offenses, theft, fraud, violent crimes, firearms charges, underage crimes, property crimes, and criminal traffic offenses in Sarasota, Bradenton, and the surrounding areas.
Erika Valcarcel is a skilled Sarasota criminal defense lawyer who fights passionately for justice on behalf of people charged with crimes in Sarasota County, Manatee County, DeSoto County, and Charlotte County. She has 13 years of practical legal experience that includes prosecuting thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases as an assistant state attorney in both counties and nearly a decade as a criminal defense litigator standing up for the rights of the accused.
Attorney Valcarcel had dedicated her life to serving those who need help in difficult situations. She spent five years as a criminal prosecutor in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, where she learned how a case is developed against someone being charged with a crime. She can use this knowledge as your Sarasota criminal lawyer to make sure you are treated fairly and receive the best outcome possible in your case.
Sarasota drug defense lawyer Erika Valcarcel is a skilled trial lawyer who has handled countless misdemeanor and felony drug charges from the perspective of a prosecutor and a defense attorney. She is a strong advocate for people charged with drug offenses ranging from marijuana possession to drug manufacturing and trafficking and will fight to get the best possible result for you.
Theft and fraud charges can be devastating, especially if they result in a criminal conviction. The investigations for these types of crimes can often be complex and confusing. The police may take your computers and other technological equipment, confiscating your private property before a conviction is made. You may be unsure of how to handle this civil asset forfeiture, especially if you did not do anything wrong. It is important to obtain skilled legal assistance right away to make sure the police and investigators respect your rights throughout the criminal justice process.
Each court in Florida has small differences in how it operates. Judges have specific rules for the progress of a case through their courtrooms. This is why it is important to have a criminal defense attorney who is familiar with local procedures. With more than a decade of legal practice in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties, Erika Valcarcel understands the Florida criminal court process in these counties. She can help you navigate the system and achieve a positive outcome in your case.
Our lawyers include a Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Specialist. Our lawyers are former State Prosecutors who have achieved praise in several journals and amongst their peers. Specifically, two of our lawyers have an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest such rating for ethical standards and professional ability, been recognized in multiple years by Super Lawyers publication, selected as a Legal Elite in Florida Trend magazine, 10.0 rating by AVVO, a national online website, and the founding partners have been nominated for State and Federal office.
While the primary function and responsibility of a criminal defense attorney is to zealously represent the criminally accused, there are many essential aspects of that role. This role begins by counseling their client and taking all reasonable steps to prepare a viable defense. To do this, they must gather facts, interview witnesses, review police reports, subpoena documents, and research case precedents and statutes. Florida criminal defense attorneys must be prepared to examine witnesses at depositions or at trials or hearings, and to prepare compelling arguments for judges and juries. In some cases, the defense attorney may also request courts to consider new and novel interpretations of existing law to support their client's interests, and must do so in an honest and ethical manner.
Additionally, and of perhaps equal importance, criminal defense attorneys are obligated to keep communications between themselves and their clients confidential, as this privilege allows clients to safely speak to their attorneys without fears of reprisals. Although there are a few exceptions to this rule, the Florida Attorney-Client Privilege is central to the relationship of defense attorney and client.
Lastly, the criminal defense attorney must be an excellent organizer and communicator as they are responsible for guiding and educating the client throughout the course of the case, and through the criminal justice system. Each client and case are unique, but all criminal matters are a stressful and difficult situation. Thus, the need to be a strong communicator and compassionate listener are key components in the role of the criminal defense attorney, as such qualities are required to help each client navigate the legal system to receive the best possible outcome for their particular case and situation.
This is a question that is commonly answered with folksy sayings. For starters, almost no criminal defense attorney charges hourly. Some do, but usually when this is done it is because the client has a prior business relationship with the lawyer and they just continue paying the hourly rate. Most criminal defense lawyers charge a nonrefundable rate to cover portions of the case. This could be all pretrial functions, not including depositions and trial. It could also be all functions except trial. This is a detail that needs to be discussed with your lawyer.
The average criminal case will cost somewhere between $5,000 and $20,000. But if we are being completely honest, criminal defense attorneys can be hired in some jurisdictions for some remedial charges for as low as $1000, one thousand dollars, and as high in some jurisdictions on some charges as $500,000 to $1million dollars. It really all depends.
In addition, criminal defense lawyers can represent clients both before and during trial proceedings. A good defense attorney will carefully review the facts of a particular case and present a strong legal argument on behalf of their client.
As a criminal lawyer, I have been advising and successfully defending cases for the citizens of South Florida with positive conclusions for close to twenty years; since I left the prosecutorial side of the criminal law community and became a criminal defense attorney serving the general public.
The prosecution in a federal case will use complications based on alleged criminal tax issues found in your personal or business returns and other documents to try to reach a plea deal or have you flip on another suspect or defendant that they feel is of more value to them than you are. With my help, challenging this charge can ultimately work in your favor.
Additionally, The Law Office of Michael B. Cohen handles all criminal matters filed as state prosecutions throughout the State of Florida with an emphasis within the tri-county Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County areas.
Prior to my appointment as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, I began my legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County Florida where I learned the basic parameters of how to charge and ultimately based upon this experience defend a criminal case.
Over the course of my career as a criminal defense attorney primarily serving Fort Lauderdale I have represented clients throughout the state of Florida, focusing but not limited to the geographic locations of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. My representation has been administered throughout the complete scope of all criminal law processes, comprising: appeals, bail hearings, criminal investigations, extradition proceedings, grand jury investigations as well as jury trials, motion hearings, and petitions to vacate guilty pleas, among others. My experience as a criminal attorney is also proficient in matters regarding probation and sentencing hearings.
Criminal investigations can be independently initiated or may be introduced by a Grand Jury. A Grand Jury is principally used in federal prosecutions. In a Grand Jury hearing, evidence is presented by the government to a group made up of sixteen to twenty-three persons. Most of the time this is a one-sided method of displaying evidence, in contrast to a jury trial where the *petit jurors (*A standard jury for criminal as well as civil trials supervised by a judge) gets to weigh both the prosecution and the defense point of view and the evidence presented.
Over the development of my 35+ year career, I have represented a substantial amount of individuals that have been called to testify in front of a grand jury, as well as those who have been served with subpoenas whose testimony could be compelled. My proficiency in this category of the criminal law process provides these individuals with critical guidance regarding their presence at the hearing by acquiring immunity from prosecution in the case at hand or by directing individuals of their right to assert Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.
Although many assume that a grand jury proceeding is secret, legitimate means exist to acquire the material content and dialogue of this type of proceeding. Representation by a proficient criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale as an ally at this serious juncture of a criminal case is vital.
Evidence of a defendant's innocence may lead a jurist to the conclusion that a guilty plea must be set aside. If so, in cases of irrefutable proof it is the Judge's responsibility to set aside the plea. This situation also holds true if the judge decides that the defendant did not fully understand the charges brought against him as well as what the potential consequences could be for their admission of guilt. These two examples may hold true even if the defendant did not make the request personally or through a criminal defense attorney. 041b061a72