When you’re charged with a crime, you have the right to legal counsel, and you can ask the court to appoint a public defender. However, the public defender is typically overworked, and he’s dividing his time between you and dozens of other clients. Here are a few other reasons you should hire your own criminal defense lawyer in Charleston, SC.
Specialized Experience
Public defenders must handle every case that’s assigned to them. While that gives them plenty of experience, they may not have significant experience in handling any specific types of cases. If you’re charged with a DUI crime, you won’t want someone who spends the majority of his day defending burglars and muggers. When you hire your own lawyer, you can look for someone with the type of experience you need.
Familiarity With the System
An experienced criminal defense lawyer in Charleston, SC, will be familiar with the judges and prosecutors who work in the criminal justice system. This means they may be able to negotiate a better deal for you. Even if they can’t obtain a dismissal of the charges, they may be able to convince the prosecutor to charge you with a lower crime. Alternatively, they may convince the judge to go easier on you in sentencing.
Access to Professional Witnesses
A public defender won’t have the budget to hire experts to testify on your behalf. Often, they can only go by the details in your arrest report. However, a criminal defense attorney will have a larger budget and they often hire experts to testify on the behalf of their clients. This can work in your favor when an expert testifies that the breathalyzer is faulty or your model of vehicle was known to have faulty brakes.
If you are facing DUI charges, visit the website for Phipps Law Firm – Personal Injury Lawyers at website to find out how they can help you.
