Get Great Representation with MANCIAGLI LAW

TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 The Atlanta Criminal Attorney Fights for Your Life and Liberty 6 Assert Your Rights and Hire an Atlanta Criminal Lawyer 8 Get Expert Representation from an Atlanta Drug Crimes Lawyer 10 Self-Representation V. an Atlanta Criminal Defense Lawyer 12 Guarantee a Good Defense with an Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

The Atlanta Criminal Attorney Fights for Your Life and Liberty
Its New Years Eve and youre out with your friends drinking and celebrating the start of what you hope would be an excellent year. Somehow you wound up in someone elses backyard and the next thing you know, a fight breaks out. A bottle is broken, people are yelling and screaming a shot is fired. In a matter of seconds, your New Years celebration turns from unforgettable to life-changing. In moments when youve inadvertently made a bad decision, the only individual who can truly turn your situation around is a seasoned Atlanta criminal attorney. Anything can happen in the heat of a moment and when youre left holding the bag, youll find yourself on the other side of the law. The entire situation will come off even more daunting if its the very first time youve gotten in trouble. The criminal justice system does allow certain latitude to individuals who are either considered as first-time offenders or are minors. But this is only in cases where the crime is a misdemeanor, or with crimes that are punishable by a mere fine, community service or probation, or jail time not exceeding a year. Trespassing, petty theft, disorderly conduct, and drunk driving are all considered misdemeanor crimes. If the trespassing charge is aggravated by the fact that you were caught carrying a gun, if the petty theft results in a homicide, if the disorderly conduct becomes a

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

contributing factor to a bystander getting seriously injured, and if your drunk driving causes another motorist to die, you will be charged with a serious felony crime. Even if youre a minor, the prosecuting attorney could very well decide to charge you as an adult. A criminal defense attorneys expertise and experience will help you deal with your situation, no matter how dire everything will appear. Once you make that phone call, your defense lawyer will immediately work on your arraignment, which may sometimes include the bail hearing. During the arraignment, your case will be read to the court and the judge will ask you to enter a plea for the record. The judge will determine whether youre fit to be released on your own recognizance with a set amount of bail or the gravity of your crime undoubtedly calls for remand or police custody. Any brilliant defense lawyer will come exceedingly prepared even for the arraignment. From the time you called him to the time you were brought into the court, your defense lawyer and his team (investigators and paralegals) wouldve already made a preliminary scrutiny of the prosecutors evidence, the witnesses, and even the structure of the charge. When something isnt, well, kosherthe arresting cop didnt read you your rights when you were arrested or the evidence was obtained illegallyyour defense lawyer will have prepared a motion to dismiss your case. Using his expertise to argue a point, your defense lawyer could very well get your case thrown out of court for lack of merit or evidence. Most defense lawyers also establish a good relationship with the prosecutors office so they can easily initiate deals for a lighter sentence or even nudge for a dismissal. If you happen to have leverageknowledge of credible information on a major crime or on a wanted individualyour lawyer may be able to workout a deal for you. Even when a jury of your peers has found you guilty, a brilliant Atlanta criminal attorney will go through your case again and find any possible cause for a re-trial.

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

He could dig into possible jury misconduct or he could even discover a connection between the judge and a juror. A simple little thing like a judge accepting the friend request of a juror on any social networking site during the course of a trial can be grounds for a new trial. A sharp defense attorney can use that simple thing to turn your hopeless situation into a hopeful one.

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

Assert Your Rights and Hire an Atlanta Criminal Lawyer

People throw lawyer jokes around with impudence in bars, at restaurants, at work. But when it comes down to itwhen youre faced with jail timeyoud want an aggressive lawyer on your side. Your life can quickly change when a cop suddenly puts you in cuffs and you take a ride to the precinct to get processed for booking. When you go from a person of interest to a suspect, all those clever lawyer jokes will seem pointless. And the skills and expertise of an Atlanta criminal lawyer will be godsend once you enter that courtroom for a bail hearing. If youve seen your share of Law and Order series, you may recall one or two crucial rights of every defendant. You may even have the presence of mind to invoke those, if and when the detectives on the case take you into an interview room and rattle you with their good cop/bad cop routine. Yes, you know that you have the right to not answer questions during an investigation. Yes, youre fully aware that you have the right to walk out of an interview if the police explicitly say you arent actually under arrest. But are you aware that should the police fail to read you your rights and you somehow volunteer information, which could incriminate you in a misdemeanor or felony case, that piece of information could be thrown out of court when your defense lawyer argues it before a trial judge? Should that information be central

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

to the prosecutions case, your defense lawyer might even move for a dismissal based on lack of evidence. The criminal justice system guarantees that both sidesthe accused and the accuserare equally protected. Every criminal defendant has a right to legal counsel, even when he cant afford it. This is why every city in every state has an established office for public defenders who provide legal service to defendants who cant afford legal counsel. Unfortunately, with the increasing budget cuts that plague every courtroom and public attorneys office, most public defendants are burdened with numerous cases they cant possibly attend to as proficiently as a defense lawyer at a firm. If your public defendant is dragging one of those stroller wheel bags with files sticking out and he cant seem to get your name right, fire him. A disorganized lawyer is a detriment to your case, especially if its a felony case. An Atlanta criminal lawyer from a reputable firm will have the time, the resources, and the priceless expertise to possibly get you an acquittal. Whether its a felony case involving Internet spam distribution or serious offence involving battery on a police officer, whether its a vehicular homicide or obstruction of justice on another ongoing criminal case, an aggressive criminal defense attorney will help you out of any jam. By the time the judge says, Youre free to go and she pounds that gavel, youll forget every lawyer joke youve ever heard. And all that matters is that you shake your defense lawyers hand and thank him for your newfound liberty.

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

Get Expert Representation from an Atlanta Drug Crimes Lawyer

According to the facts and figures presented by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, there were 30,922 arrests made due to drug crimes in 2010. There were also 29,179 kilograms of cocaine, 690 kilograms of heroin, 722,476 kilograms of marijuana, 2,067 kilograms of methamphetamines, and 2,578,935 dosage units of hallucinogens seized in the country that same year. Drug-related crimes are a serious national issue, and individuals proven guilty of such a crime can be slapped with huge fines, face significant jail time, and receive a permanent smudge on their criminal record. People faced with drug charges such as drug sales, conspiracy, trafficking, cultivation, or manufacturing would benefit greatly from hiring an expert Atlanta drug crimes lawyer. An attorney who is especially skilled in handling drug cases can thoroughly investigate, negotiate, and try your case (should the case ever go to trial). Serious felony drug charges in State and Federal Courts cannot be left to the hands of an inexperienced lawyer whose practice specializes in different areas. For a case as serious as this, it would be a remarkable advantage to hire only the most competent representation. A good criminal defense lawyer will properly represent you through each stage of your case, from the initial investigation through to the bond hearings, preliminary hearings, motion hearings, trial, and even to your appeal, should an appeal be warranted.

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that an estimated 14.8 million Americans were current drug users. This meant that in the month prior to the survey, the respondents had used an illicit drug. These numbers increase exponentially through the years, and legal departments who study drugs and its relation to criminal behavior often find that the sale and use of drugs contribute significantly to incidences of both petty and serious crimes within the country. Being arrested for these crimes translates to several years of imprisonment and possibly severe negative consequences to a person's life. If you feel you have been wrongfully accused of a crime involving drugs, or if the case made against you is particularly strong, a drug crimes lawyer can properly investigate every aspect of the charges that have been made and defend your case from a position of strength. Navigating the complicated paths and processes of a serious drug charge is no task for an inexperienced attorney and certainly not a task for an accused individual to handle alone. An Atlanta drug crimes lawyer can work for the dismissal of any charges, as well as acquittals or probationary sentences for cases involving illegal substances.

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

Self-Representation V. an Atlanta Criminal Defense Lawyer

There are instances in life when regret does more than just cause you sleepless nights. When you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, when you recklessly disregard your parents advice to stay away from a notorious friend, when you foolishly got into your car in spite of having drunk tequila shots and several glasses of wine at happy hour situations that have resulted in destruction of property or worse, death, can put your liberty at risk. You cant turn back the hand of time, but you can have a hand in how it all unfolds by hiring an Atlanta criminal defense lawyer. The law allows every U.S. citizen the right to represent himself under the Sixth Amendment. This right was explicitly guaranteed after the 1975 landmark case of Faretta v. California, which determined that every criminal defendant had a right to self-representation in state trials. But the law is clear that self-representation (also known as pro se) must be adopted knowingly and intelligently. Every trial judge discourages every defendant to present his case because the decision is almost, always, a bad idea. Case in point, the Beltway sniper, John Allen Muhammad, who relieved his lawyers of their duty so he could represent himself. Muhammad was eventually found guilty and executed on November 2009. Ted Bundy also fired his lawyers and his decision to plead his case before a jury of his peers resulted in his conviction. The University of Georgia School of Law further galvanizes the belief

10

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

that self-representation is a foolish move with its 2007 study. Felony cases from 1998 to 2003 were analyzed, and data showed that the rate of conviction for pro se defendants were equivalent or lower than defendants with legal representation. Its true that a jury might be persuaded to make a decision in your favor if you happen to be charismatic, and if the prosecution somehow manages to bungle their case by presenting a series of confusing material evidence. But this is a rare occurrence and gambling on your life and liberty rarely presents good odds. By hiring an experienced and skilled criminal defense lawyer, you get a guarantee that your case will be handled in the best possible way. Criminal defense lawyers will have the resources to hire investigators to verify testimonies from eyewitnesses, to confirm the veracity of documents used by the prosecution side, and basically to check just how airtight the case is against you. Defense lawyers will have a staff of paralegals to look up and cite precedent cases thatll help with your defense. Your criminal defense lawyer will have the courtroom savvy to argue your case before every kind of trial judge (male or female, conservative or liberal) and every kind of juror. When you find yourself in the back of a police car after being caught in the middle of a criminal act, when you inadvertently help a friend with a police record, or when you realize youve caused a horrific mistake driving while intoxicated, your first phone call should be to an Atlanta criminal defense lawyer.

11

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

Guarantee a Good Defense With an Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney

What does a lawyers acquittal rate indicate? The number of defendants hes gotten a not guilty verdict for is a testament to his skills as a litigator. The greater the acquittal rate, the better chances youve got in winning your case with that lawyer. Just as a prosecution lawyer works cases to get as many conviction rates as possible, so would an Atlanta criminal defense attorney instigate efforts to rack-up as many acquittal rates as possible. Its true that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution and the defense needs only to create reasonable doubt once the trial begins. With 12 people of different personalities and backgrounds working together to decide which side argued better, sowing reasonable doubt shouldnt be all that difficult. And yet it can prove to be more complicated than youd think. This is exactly why you need to scrutinize every defense attorney you come across with so youre guaranteed a good defense. Most people would consider top-earning law firms to have at least one brilliant criminal defense lawyer, with an army of sharp paralegals and a stable of clever

12

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com

investigators to help them win a case. These types of law firms, with their milliondollar plush offices, their decadent buffet breakfasts, and their designer tailored suits, usually charge a premium for their services. So, this scenario is likely to cost you a thousand dollars an hour (lawyers charge by the hour). Unless youve got a large fund for a legal defense, huge pricey law firms might not work to your advantage. A modest-sized law firm in Atlanta with a top-performing defense lawyer would be more suitable. A defense lawyer that runs a modest office will have the time and energy to provide your case with the attention it deserves, and his work will speak for itself. The most important thing to consider when youre trying to get a lawyer is to check out his track record. How many cases has he argued successfully for a dismissal? How many of his clients have received a not guilty verdict? Has he gotten any convictions overturned during an appeal? The kinds of cases hes worked on should also tell you about his specialty. Has he worked a lot of white-collar crimes like identity theft, money laundering, or tax evasion? Has he won a lot of cases related to violent crime like manslaughter, felony murder, or assault and battery? Does he take on more drug trafficking cases than any other lawyers youve considered? A good defense lawyer should have more defense strategies than just creating reasonable doubt. An Atlanta criminal defense attorney that possesses an impressive track record when it comes to acquittals (or dismissed cases) means youre getting a brilliant mind who has mastered every type of defense strategy that will work for every kind of case. His experience and skill in the courtroom might just pave the way for a not guilty verdict for you.

13

COPYRIGHT 2012 www.manciagli-law.com