The United States is great in that our judicial system promotes the idea that an individual is innocent until proven guilty. However, through cracks in the courtroom, guilt isn’t always proven. We’re told to assign guilt only if that guilt is apparent “beyond a shadow of a doubt.” And that shouldn’t be a phrase that’s open to interpretation or compromise. It ought to be black and white. But for whatever reasons, and through whatever means, innocent citizens are still sent to prison, and certain unlucky individuals have even been sentenced to death.

The sad truth is this: innocent people have died due to faults in the American legal system. According to The New York Times, a whopping 115 prisoners on death row have been exonerated since 1989. And those are cases of admitted injustice. It makes one wonder how many people may have wrongfully died due to courtroom follies.

Why is the courtroom fallible? Well, there are numerous hypotheses which may all be right in the end, but the biggest reason is people. A court is run by people, and verdicts are decided by...

Lawyers’ duties extend beyond the courtroom. Defense attorneys, for example, aid clients from the day they’re hired. They void warrants, ensure proper protection from abusive police questioning, and they can attempt to have a criminal case thrown out altogether. Protection from a defense lawyer begins immediately. That’s a formula that works – because a lawyer must earn a client’s trust in order to compose a winning case.

This is essential, because a lawyer and client must work as a team. Judges tend to lend more leniency to collaborative lawyer, and juries are more persuaded by lawyers and clients who work closely. Moreover, clients can place trust in their lawyer, since lawyers are held up to a standard of conduct rendered by the American Bar Association (ABA). According to the ABA’s standards, lawyers must not:

The severity of penalization for DUIs varies on a case by case basis, but there are general guidelines that help one estimate the penalties of a DUI conviction. Obviously, a DUI lawyer is most likely to help you get a reduction on a sentencing, and it’s your best chance at having a case dropped or thrown out. Let’s look at the penalties you will likely incur if you are convicted of a DUI. A conviction means a judge and/or jury has determined that an individual is guilty of the crime in question…

It is an option to represent yourself in court. But it’s largely not recommended. Let’s look into a few reasons why criminally accused defendants are recommended to receive representation…