Pre-Trial and Post Trial Hearings

Phoenix, Arizona Criminal Lawyer

Pre-trial work is so important to a case that if done correctly, charges may be dismissed or the defendant may secure a very favorable plea agreement. However, before or during the trial your rights may have been violated in some way or a mistake may have been made. You may have the right to post-conviction relief or to have your conviction set aside, and it is important to have the right Phoenix pre-trial and post-trial hearings attorney to protect your interests in these situations. Our attorney Richard Suzuki has diverse experience, and has worked on hundreds of post-conviction relief motions as an Arizona criminal lawyer.

At Suzuki Law Offices, we work to ensure that our clients' interests are protected in all aspects of pre-trial, bench or jury trial, plea negotiations, sentencing, and in post-conviction relief such as appeals and motions to set aside prior felony convictions on any criminal charge. Our staff understands your rights and will provide detailed attention to your case.

Pre-Trial Hearings Attorney

Initial Appearance - You have the right to be in front of a judge within 24 hours of your arrest to be informed of your charges and to have a bond and release conditions set. We fight aggressively to help our clients receive the lowest bond amount possible and many times successfully argue for release on your own recognizance (no-bond or restrictions.)

Arraignment - After formal charges are brought against you, it is imperative that you enter a plea of not guilty, guilty, or no contest. Your attorney can help determine your best course of action in this regard. In misdemeanor charges, many times your appearance may be waived.

Bond Reduction Hearing - The United States Constitution guarantees that bail be reasonable to ensure the defendant's appearance. The court takes into consideration several factors when setting a defendant's bond. We can file a motion for bond reduction or, in the alternative, for release on your own recognizance.

Preliminary Hearings - At the preliminary hearing, you will be facing a criminal complaint and the state or government (prosecution) will be trying to bring formal charges. It is the prosecution's job to prove probable cause that a crime was committed and that it was more than likely you who committed the crime.

Motions to Suppress or Dismiss - If your constitutional rights were violated during the investigation, it is very important to have an aggressive attorney file the appropriate motions attacking: Miranda violations, voluntary statements, suggestive identification, photo line-ups, 4th Amendment violations, lack of probable cause for a search warrant or arrest warrant, motion to remand to the grand jury, reasonable suspicion for an unlawful traffic stop, and many other motions that are absolutely imperative to an aggressive defense.

Post-Trial Attorney

Sentencing Hearing - Sentencing is definitely one of the most stressful situations for a defendant and their family. Having an attorney obtain character letters and clearly understanding the client's background is essential to aggressively mitigating the potential penalties in order to avoid jail or prison. In federal court, sentencing is where many cases are won arguing downward departures from the United State Sentencing Guidelines. Richard Suzuki was both a former State and Federal prosecutor who understands all aspects of sentencing from both sides.

Criminal Appeals - After a guilty verdict, you have right to an appeal. If there was no trial, but a conviction, you have the right to file a motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to Rule 32 of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure. Throughout your case, Mr. Suzuki is very much aware of possible appealable issues through pre-trial hearings and trial. Mr. Suzuki will thoroughly explain your possible appealable issues:

Motions to Set Aside - When a person is convicted of crime they lose many rights, such as the right to bear arms and the right to vote. In Arizona there is no right to expunge your record, however you do have the right to file a motion to set aside your conviction and have your rights restored.

Probation Hearings - If a probation officer filed a petition to revoke probation and alleges that you violated your terms of probation, you may face serious jail time or prison. In fact, you can be sentenced to serve the original sentence. On the other hand, if you've been a model citizen and have abided by all your terms and conditions of probation, you can file a motion to successfully terminate your probation early. Richard Suzuki has successfully defended probation violation allegations, argued for early termination of probation, and has even successfully argued for "life term" probation to be successfully terminated.

Hire the Right Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney

Richard Suzuki has a great understanding of criminal defense and has successfully represented hundreds of clients in federal, state, city and justice courts. Mr. Suzuki served as a former federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice - United States Attorney's Office and as a state prosecutor as a Deputy Maricopa County. These insights and invaluable experience with federal court procedure set him apart from most defense attorneys.

Contact Suzuki Law Offices today!