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Written By: Matthew W. Peterson
Published: 03/20/2018
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The stages of criminal case Massachusetts involve many different court dates. This can vary depending on the court or the charge. A criminal case has many court settings that serve different roles. All of them are important, and you need to hire an attorney as soon as possible to help protect your rights in these hearings.
In most cases, the court dates for a criminal case in Massachusetts courts are as follows:
This is the first stage of criminal case Massachusetts. An arraignment is where you are informed of the charges against you and enter a plea. In almost every case, you will enter a plea of not guilty, no matter what the evidence is. This is because there is no reason to plead guilty at this stage.
The judge also sets bail. Even if you were released on bail at the police station, the judge could require further bail. You need a lawyer at your arraignment to protect your rights. Hiring an experienced Boston criminal defense attorney from the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson as soon as possible can also allow your attorney to investigate your case to help defend you.
At this stage of the criminal case in Massachusetts, your attorney and the prosecutor figure out what discovery is missing. Generally, your attorney will request and receive documents from the Commonwealth, and you will set a further court date. The Commonwealth may also make an offer to resolve the case. So you should be aware of the evidence against you and the possible penalties before you decide whether to accept or decline the prosecution’s offer.
This is why it’s important to have an attorney at a pretrial hearing. A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Boston MA from the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson can advise you of the potential penalties, your likelihood of success at trial or with motions that may be filed, and thus whether you should accept the prosecution’s offer. The judge could set a compliance date if discovery is incomplete at a pretrial hearing. The judge can also set a date for motions.
A trial is where a factfinder determines whether you are guilty or not guilty of the offense you’re charged with. You can choose a jury or go in front of a judge. An attorney from the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson is most crucial at this stage of a criminal case in Massachusetts. After the trial, you have the right to appeal. You can go to the Appeals Court then the Supreme Judicial Court. Your attorney should file a notice of appeal as soon as possible.
In a felony case in Massachusetts, a grand jury decides whether to indict the case. The Grand Jury is a secret body that determines whether there’s probable cause for a felony to go to Superior Court. Neither the defendant nor the criminal defense attorney can participate in this stage. The prosecution presents the case to the Grand Jury and decides whether it goes forward. Depending on the type of case, this process can take anywhere from six months to years.
If you are charged with a crime, no matter how serious, you need an experienced Boston criminal defense attorney from the Law Office of Matthew W. Peterson to protect your rights. Contact me today, and let’s get started on your defense. If you need a criminal defense lawyer in Boston MA who will fight for you, call me now and set up a consultation at (617) 295-7500.
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