Criminal Defense Attorney John E. MacDonald Secures Precedent for Deferred Sentence Expungements in RI

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    PROVIDENCE, RI, May 11, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Providence RI Criminal Defense Attorney John MacDonald has secured a precedent for helping clients resolve a client in a deferred sentencing expungement in Rhode Island. If you were granted a deferred sentence in Rhode Island prior to 2011, the recent changes in the interpretation of this law may prevent you from expunging your record under the guidelines of your agreement. As a result of the Supreme Court's recent decision, all defendant's with a deferred sentence secured before 2011 cannot expunge it after its five year period ended. Currently, those who obtained deferred sentences prior to 2011 must wait an additional ten years to expunge their criminal record.

Attorney MacDonald has recently developed a mechanism to expunge these records immediately. The filing of post-conviction relief allows the original deferred sentence to be opened. Once open, the conviction can then be dismissed and immediately expunged. He has secured this result already for multiple clients.

When asked what this means for those who fall between the old law and the new precedent, Attorney MacDonald said, "Unless you are pro-active and file post-conviction relief to enforce the expungement you bargained for and earned, you will be stuck with a felony conviction for the next 10 years."

About the Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc.
John E. MacDonald is a trial attorney practicing criminal defense, immigration law and post-conviction relief, and representing clients in state and federal court in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Mr. MacDonald is an honors graduate of Suffolk University Law School (1995) and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Rhode Island (1990). He is admitted to practice in all state courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Districts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts as well as the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. MacDonald is also the author of the Rhode Island Criminal Defense Manual (4th Edition), the go-to manual used by criminal defense attorneys throughout Rhode Island. Mr. MacDonald is the former president of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Learn more about the Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc. at http://www.aggressivelegalservices.com/

Contact Info:
Law Office of John E. MacDonald, Inc.
1 Turks Head Place, Suite 1440
P.O. Box 1503
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 421-1440
(401) 421-1442
http://www.aggressivelegalservices.com/recent_law_firm_case_results.html
jm@jmaclaw.com

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What Makes a Good Texas Criminal Defense Attorney?

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May 09, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The day you or a loved one is accused of a crime is usually the worst day of your life. Do you go pay a bondsman? Do you ask for a court-appointed lawyer? Do you try to hire an attorney? And if so, how do you decide which lawyer to hire? How do you know that the one you choose is the best lawyer for you?

Most people already know that lawyers are advocates and legal counselors because nearly every advertisement says this in one way or another. However, not every attorney has the training and experience to handle every type of case. Just because a lawyer advertises on television, on billboards or in the newspaper does not mean that person is the right lawyer for you.

The right lawyer for you is the one that has the legal training and experience to properly analyze your case; prepare it properly; and represent you and advocate on your behalf to the prosecutor, the judge and, if appropriate, the jury.

This article will highlight some of characteristics that make a good criminal defense lawyer, and allow you to understand the answers to those very important interview questions that you must be asking when it comes time to pick your lawyer.

A Good Criminal Attorney Knows the Law. While this should go without saying, not every attorney tries to stay current with the changes in criminal law. A good criminal defense lawyer usually has access to a law library and online legal research sites, and receives regular updates on the changes in criminal law that occur every day. By staying current, a lawyer stays knowledgeable in the law and the legal precedents that apply to the crime being charged. Because a good criminal attorney knows the law, he or she is able to pick out unique aspects of your case that support a defense or may favor your position.

A Good Criminal Attorney Knows How to Work Your case. There is usually a significant amount of legwork that goes into the development of every case. This may include locating and questioning witnesses, reviewing police reports and witness statements made against you, researching legal technicalities, evaluating possible legal defenses, and hiring experts to conduct further tests and investigations. A good criminal attorney is a master of all these essential components, and knows how to coordinate them based upon his or her many years of experience in handling similar cases. Then, after properly preparing a client's case, a good criminal attorney knows how to present that case to a judge and jury.

A Good Criminal Attorney Spends Time With the Client. A competent attorney will always spend all the time necessary to interview the client, and learn everything about that client and his or her case that is relevant to the legal representation. After consulting with the client and completing his or her case preparation, a good criminal attorney will objectively review the case and help the client understand its strengths and weaknesses, and propose realistic goals and outcomes. On some occasions, the facts may warrant telling a client that the possibilities of having the charges dropped or the client being acquitted are very small, and in that case will clearly explain the benefits and consequences of nevertheless proceeding to trial or, in the alternative, pleading guilty. Sometimes the best possible outcomes are very serious, and if a client decides to plead guilty, a good criminal attorney will be able to secure the best possible negotiated outcome under the circumstances.

A Good Criminal Attorney Is Experienced. The single most important characteristic a good criminal lawyer has is his or her training and experience. An attorney that has 20 or 30 years of criminal law trials has the knowledge and expertise to be able to competently perform all the required tasks to properly handle a criminal case. Such an attorney has had many years of interviewing clients and witnesses and learned how to obtain valuable information that can help a client's case. He or she has read hundreds -- if not thousands -- of police reports and witness statements and has developed a sense to detect when there are important facts being omitted or mischaracterized. He or she knows which defenses are sellable to a jury and whether the client will make a believable witness. A good criminal attorney has the experience to know who are the best expert witnesses. And importantly, a good criminal attorney knows the judges and the best legal arguments to make (or avoid) under the circumstances.

The Best Criminal Attorneys Are Board Certified Specialists. The best criminal attorneys have all of the foregoing characteristics, and are particularly skilled in the practice of criminal law. The State Bar of Texas has created an organization to certify the very best criminal law attorneys, by requiring each candidate to demonstrate an expertise in each of the particularized skills. An additional organization, the National Board of Trial Advocacy, also certifies to the exceptional competence of criminal attorneys. Some of the very best, most qualified Texas attorneys are board certified both by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

By hiring a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, you can be assured that your attorney has those characteristics of a good criminal lawyer, and will be the right criminal defense attorney for you.

Article provided by Law Offices of Ray Taylor & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.raytaylorlaw.com

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Van Nuys Criminal Defense Attorneys Expand Practice

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VAN NUYS, CA, May 03, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The team of highly experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb are excited to announce an expansion of the firm to serve more courts and areas throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Long recognized as one of the leading criminal defense law firms in Los Angeles, CA, the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb initially focused on serving clients charged with crimes in the Van Nuys Courthouse. Due to an increasing number of individuals seeking expert legal representation, the firm is expanding to serve other sections of the San Fernando Valley.

The Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb has a clear philosophy - to aggressively defend its clients against criminal charges with unmatched dedication to achieve exceptional results. This philosophy has positioned the firm as a leader in the San Fernando Valley.

Van Nuys criminal attorneys from the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb will now be actively handling criminal cases in all parts of the San Fernando Valley, including: Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Woodland Hills, and other areas.

According to Garret Weinrieb, founding partner of the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb, "we are very excited to expand our criminal defense expertise beyond Van Nuys and into all parts of the San Fernando Valley in order to properly defend individuals charged with criminal offenses in these areas."

If you are searching for a criminal attorney in Van Nuys, or for more information on the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb, please contact the firm at (818) 888-2711.

About the Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb:
Naderi & Weinrieb is a law firm comprised of highly respected criminal defense attorneys Bob Schwartz, Arvand Naderi, Garret Weinrieb, Stanley Perlo and Harvey Weinrieb. The firm represents clients in a variety of criminal cases, including: DUI, domestic violence, drug possession, Internet sex crimes, murder/attempted murder, probation violations and weapons charges.

Contact:
Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb
16000 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1208
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 888-2711
http://www.818crime.com

The Law Offices of Naderi & Weinrieb is a team of Van Nuys criminal attorneys with over 80 years of combined experience. If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offense, call the firm today at (818) 522-8593.

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