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You’ve been charged with a crime in the State of Maine and are going to court to appear before a judge. What should you expect? What should you do? What should you not do? What is an initial appearance? The initial appearance is meant to serve as the start of your criminal case. This is not meant to be the time to present your side of the story. This is not the time to argue with the judge or the prosecutor (let a defense attorney do the arguing). At your initial appearanc

You’ve reviewed your case, the evidence, and the law. You understand the potential consequences and you’re debating whether you want to accept a plea agreement from the prosecutor. What should you consider? What should you discuss with your lawyer? Personal goals and priorities First and foremost, you must consider your own priorities and goals in both the short term and the long term. A good deal for someone else, might be a bad deal for you. Talk to your lawyer about what t

You’ve been charged with a crime in the State of Maine. You’ve had your initial appearance and now are heading toward your second court date: the Dispositional Conference. What should you expect? What should you do? What should you not do? What is a Dispositional Conference? The dispositional conference is your opportunity to negotiate a better outcome for your case. You will inevitably speak to a prosecutor about your case. If you are not getting an outcome you want from a

You’ve reviewed your case, the evidence, and the law. You understand the strengths of the case, the weaknesses, and the bargaining power that you hold. What should you ask for in terms of a resolution? Should you take the case to trial? There are many different ways to resolve a criminal case. These are some of the most common in Maine and are reasonable resolutions to many cases. Plea as charged (single count) Pleading to a crime as charged means that you are entering a plea