Your Criminal Case
Fisher & Byrialsen provides legal services to clients facing serious legal problems, specializing in criminal defense. The firm aims to treat its clients with respect and dignity while obtaining the best possible legal result both in and out of the courtroom. With years of litigation experience, Fisher & Byrialsen will provide a level of advocacy that goes beyond the courtroom, assisting clients with the potential collateral consequences stemming from their legal problems. Every case is aggressively fought with vigor and every angle is analyzed in order to achieve positive results for our clients. There is no such thing as a small case and we are well aware that misdemeanor cases can have an everlasting impact on our clients.
ARRAIGNMENTS
Representing an individual at their arraignment includes a detailed initial interview and an explanation of the services we provide. We also appear on the record in front of the presiding judge and enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the client, as well as advocate for the clients release without bail or release with as a low a bail as possible. If bail is set, we do whatever it takes to help the client's family and friends with the bail posting process.
Once a case has been arraigned there are several short procedural court appearances required by the client and the attorney before the case is set for trial. As part of their services, Fisher & Byrialsen will appear with the client at each of these court appearances. Another service provided by the firm is investigations. Investigations include going to the scene of the alleged crime and taking pictures, mapping the area, searching for witnesses, interviewing witnesses, and taking written statements from witnesses. Depending on the complexity of the case a private investigator may be needed and will be employed for optimum results. The attorneys in the firm have subpoena power and as part of the firm's service, this subpoena power is used to ensure that witnesses appear at trial. We also subpoena surveillance videos or other physical evidence which may be relevant for a zealous defense. In every case Fisher & Byrialsen files appropriate motions and necessary paperwork. Depending on the case these motions can include: motions to dismiss for facial insufficiency, motions to suppress statements made by the client, motions to suppress identifications of the client, and motions to suppress physical evidence. These motions are written individually for each case and are specific to the facts of that case. As part of our motion practice the firm also files a Bill of Particulars and a Demand to Produce, which are both discovery tools used by the defense to request the prosecution turn over all evidence they intend to introduce at trial. Where appropriate and desired by the client, the firm will engage in plea negotiations with the district attorney's office. These negotiations are only initiated at the client's request and are an attempt to gain the best possible resolution to the case. Plea negotiations can result in a lowering of the charges as well as a lowering in the recommended sentence. We also engage in negotiations to keep clients from getting a criminal record.
PREPARING A CASE FOR TRIAL
Hearing and trial preparation are the most time consuming and lengthy service provided by the firm. Hearing preparation includes research by the attorneys on the relevant legal issues and the formation of legal arguments on these issues. Trial preparation includes preparing the client and defense witnesses to testify. This involves several meetings with the client and the witnesses. Trial preparation also includes preparing voir dire questions, opening statement, cross-examinations of the prosecutor's witnesses, direct examination of the defense witnesses, a closing argument and the desired and appropriate jury instructions. Depending on the case and its complexity one or two attorneys will try the case together. The legal services provided at trial include resolution of all pre-trial issues, jury selection, cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, arguments on motions for trial order of dismissal, direct examination of defense witnesses, and closing argument.
ARRAIGNMENTS
Representing an individual at their arraignment includes a detailed initial interview and an explanation of the services we provide. We also appear on the record in front of the presiding judge and enter a plea of not guilty on behalf of the client, as well as advocate for the clients release without bail or release with as a low a bail as possible. If bail is set, we do whatever it takes to help the client's family and friends with the bail posting process.
Once a case has been arraigned there are several short procedural court appearances required by the client and the attorney before the case is set for trial. As part of their services, Fisher & Byrialsen will appear with the client at each of these court appearances. Another service provided by the firm is investigations. Investigations include going to the scene of the alleged crime and taking pictures, mapping the area, searching for witnesses, interviewing witnesses, and taking written statements from witnesses. Depending on the complexity of the case a private investigator may be needed and will be employed for optimum results. The attorneys in the firm have subpoena power and as part of the firm's service, this subpoena power is used to ensure that witnesses appear at trial. We also subpoena surveillance videos or other physical evidence which may be relevant for a zealous defense. In every case Fisher & Byrialsen files appropriate motions and necessary paperwork. Depending on the case these motions can include: motions to dismiss for facial insufficiency, motions to suppress statements made by the client, motions to suppress identifications of the client, and motions to suppress physical evidence. These motions are written individually for each case and are specific to the facts of that case. As part of our motion practice the firm also files a Bill of Particulars and a Demand to Produce, which are both discovery tools used by the defense to request the prosecution turn over all evidence they intend to introduce at trial. Where appropriate and desired by the client, the firm will engage in plea negotiations with the district attorney's office. These negotiations are only initiated at the client's request and are an attempt to gain the best possible resolution to the case. Plea negotiations can result in a lowering of the charges as well as a lowering in the recommended sentence. We also engage in negotiations to keep clients from getting a criminal record.
PREPARING A CASE FOR TRIAL
Hearing and trial preparation are the most time consuming and lengthy service provided by the firm. Hearing preparation includes research by the attorneys on the relevant legal issues and the formation of legal arguments on these issues. Trial preparation includes preparing the client and defense witnesses to testify. This involves several meetings with the client and the witnesses. Trial preparation also includes preparing voir dire questions, opening statement, cross-examinations of the prosecutor's witnesses, direct examination of the defense witnesses, a closing argument and the desired and appropriate jury instructions. Depending on the case and its complexity one or two attorneys will try the case together. The legal services provided at trial include resolution of all pre-trial issues, jury selection, cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, arguments on motions for trial order of dismissal, direct examination of defense witnesses, and closing argument.