Can I still hire an
attorney if I originally told the judge I would represent myself?
In a Utah criminal case, you have a constitutional right to be represented by an
attorney.
One of the first questions a judge will ask when you appear in court is
whether you are hiring an attorney, requesting a public
defender, or will be representing yourself.
Choosing to
represent yourself
in a criminal case may be a big mistake. As the case progresses, you
may discover that
defending yourself is more complicated than you anticipated. You may
also learn that the consequences you are facing are more serious than
you originally realized.
If you find yourself in this situation, you should immediately contact
an
experienced
criminal defense attorney and provide notice to the court and
prosecutor that you are hiring counsel. You have a constitutionally
protected right to be represented by an attorney. But
your attorney will likely need time to gather discovery, do a thorough
case analysis, determine necessary investigation, develop a defense
strategy, and prepare the case for court. A delay in hiring an
attorney may put you at a strategic disadvantage or may create a
situation where the court denies you additional time needed for your
attorney
to prepare.
If you initially told the judge that you would represent yourself, it
may not be too late.
Contact
us today to arrange for an initial confidential consultation with Utah
criminal attorney Stephen
Howard. Based in Salt Lake City, Mr. Howard provides legal services to
clients throughout Utah.
When is it safe to represent myself in a Utah criminal case?
The only time you should seriously consider representing yourself is
when you can accept the worst consequences that you may be facing. If
you are facing a simple parking ticket with a $40 fine, you may be
better off representing yourself. But even minor misdemeanor cases in
Utah can carry serious
consequences,
including the possibility of substantial jail time and thousands of
dollars in fines. Felony cases can involve much more serious penalties.
An experienced defense attorney can help to give you the best chance of
avoiding the most serious consequences of a criminal conviction. If you
are prepared to accept all of those consequences, you may not need to
hire an attorney. Otherwise, you would be well-advised to hire a
criminal defense lawyer to represent you.
How much time will my new attorney need in order to prepare
to handle the case?
Most of the time, your new attorney will want to ask the court for a
continuance, to allow the necessary time to review discovery, pursue
any needed investigation, develop an appropriate defense strategy, etc.
The amount of time needed to adequately prepare the case can depend on
a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, cooperation
from witnesses or government agencies, the need for expert witness
evaluations, etc.
If you wait to try to hire an attorney until the night before trial,
the judge may refuse to grant a continuance. Many experienced criminal
attorneys will not be willing (and for good reasons) to take on a case
unless the judge grants the continuance. Waiting till the last minute
to hire an attorney may also be viewed by the judge as a delaying
tactic, and may cast you in an unfavorable light with the court.
Finding a Utah Criminal Defense Attorney in Salt Lake City

Even
minor criminal charges in Utah can have serious
consequences. Hiring
an experienced
Utah
criminal defense attorney can help give you the best chance
of success in defending your case.
Based in Salt Lake City, criminal attorney Stephen Howard offers legal
services to clients throughout Utah. He has successfully protected his
clients' rights in thousands of cases ranging from homicide to
shoplifting, and virtually everything in between. His track record
includes not guilty verdicts and dismissals in some of the most serious
charges on the books in Utah.
Contact us now to arrange
for an initial confidential consultation with
Salt
Lake City defense attorney Stephen Howard.
RELATED QUESTIONS:
Do I need
to have a lawyer to represent me in a criminal case?
How
do I choose the best lawyer to handle my criminal defense case?
Do
I need an attorney even if the case involves only misdemeanor charges?