Skilled, Savvy, and Effective Oakland County Criminal Defense
Oakland County is notorious for overzealous prosecutors who care more about convictions than they do about seeking justice. Similarly, the judges are widely-regarded as harsh and conservative. A top defense lawyer will never be intimidated by a judge or prosecutor under any circumstances.
Felony and Misdemeanor Charges in Oakland County
As effective criminal defense attorneys who handle cases in Oakland County regularly, the attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. can tell you that it is one of the most challenging jurisdictions for defendants to get a fair trial. Whether a case is prosecuted by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office or any of the multiple local city or township attorney’s offices, the government’s aggressiveness in Oakland County is unsurpassed anywhere else in Michigan. In fact, lawyers who are used to practicing in Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston County, and Washtenaw County frequently refuse to practice in Oakland County because it is so challenging (this was even more true when the economy was rolling and before many criminal defense attorneys in Oakland County were struggling financially).
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Oakland County
It is not true that lawyers from other counties are singled out and treated unfairly in Oakland County, as some attorneys claim. On the other hand, judges, prosecutors, and court staff in Oakland County like things done in a particular way, and when a criminal defense lawyer does not handle a case in the “Oakland County Way,” things can get a little tough for them. One example of this is in Oakland County Circuit Court. There are more than a dozen Oakland County Circuit Court judges that handle felony criminal cases. Each Oakland County Circuit Court judge handles arraignments, pre-trials, and pleas in their own unique way. However, the method used in Oakland County is far different from that used in other counties in Michigan. Many Oakland County Circuit Court judges use Cobbs Pleas (again, each in their own unique way). A lawyer who is very familiar with the Oakland County Circuit Court will know how to maximize their client’s Cobbs Agreement, which will minimize any potential consequences resulting from a criminal conviction by a plea of guilty or no contest. If a lawyer is not extremely familiar with the Oakland County Cobb Plea procedure, there is a strong likelihood that they will not know what language to use or what format to request for purposes of maximizing the potential benefit of the Cobbs Plea.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office – Overcharging
Regretfully, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is rather well known for overcharging defendants and then later refusing to engage in a plea bargaining process. An argument can be made that the warrant prosecutor who initially authorized the warrant tried to cover any potential criminal offense by charging serval serious offenses when issuing the charges. Maybe they were not aware of a fact or circumstance that comes to light as the case develops. The problem is that in the variety of cases where such additional facts or circumstances come to light and make it clear that the original charge is excessive or in error, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is rather infamous for refusing to adjust the charge in exchange for a plea. A great Oakland County criminal defense lawyer, who is a known Oakland County trial attorney, can often get the Oakland County Prosecutor to offer a charge reduction or dismissal when another lawyer, who is less well known, would be unable to achieve such an extraordinary result.
They Are Tough, We Are Tougher – Your Best Defense Starts Here
Oakland County prosecutor and Oakland County circuit and district judges are notoriously tough on domestic violence cases, DUI/OWI cases, criminal sexual conduct, home invasion, violations of probation (VOP), assault and weapons charges, appeals, and drug possession and distribution charges. The defense lawyers with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are not intimidated by any judge or prosecutor! If you are looking for a lawyer who will faithfully, tenaciously, and fearlessly fight to protect and defend you, we are here to help you.
Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete a Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.
We will find a way to help you and, most importantly,
we are not afraid to win!
