A defendant charged with a misdemeanor has fewer legal rights than a defendant charged with a felony. If the defendant will not face imprisonment as a result of conviction, he has no right to an attorney. There is no right to indictment by grand jury, or to a “preliminary examination” to review the basis of the charges filed. In some states, misdemeanor charges are tried before six person juries, whereas felonies are ordinarily tried before twelve person juries. Most other rights are the same, for both felonies and misdemeanors.At the Charles Johnson Law Firm, we provide a free consultation to anyone charged with a crime. You should take advantage of that free consultation immediately. Having an attorney is so important to successfully getting through the criminal process. Get a free initial consultation by calling Austin Criminal Defense Attorney Johnson now, 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.
Archive for Felonies
31
May 2011
Do Defendants Have The Same Rights When Facing Misdemeanor And Felony Charges?
Charles Johnson |
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