Criminal Defense

After a criminal arrest, you might feel nervous, frustrated, or angry, so you might want to immediately contact a seasoned Grand Rapids criminal attorney. The length of time from your arrest until your first time in court, also called the initial appearance, can seem unending, especially when you ar...

Attending your bail hearing is important and should never be neglected. Failing to appear for your bail hearing will only make the hearing much more difficult for your attorney. Even past failures to appear at a bail hearing can be used against you at your current hearing. If you have ever failed to...

A criminal defense lawyer in Grand Rapids can explain the constitutional rules regarding bail and the amount that a court can order on a particular defendant. Additionally, he or she can discuss arguments that support a defendant’s request for a reduction in bail. GOALS OF BAIL Your criminal defen...

The principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is a fundamental cornerstone of our justice system. It means if you have been charged with a crime, you are presumed innocent unless the prosecution is able to prove your guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” The state must convince the jury “to...

The entire foundation of our legal system rests on the simple concept of a person being innocent until proven guilty. To be proven guilty, the prosecutor must convince a jury “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant was responsible for the crimes they are charged with. This is why the jury...

Oftentimes a new client hires a Grand Rapids criminal defense attorney with relatively limited  knowledge of the criminal justice system but some knowledge of civil cases through something like a personal injury lawsuit or a business dispute. Learning about criminal cases and depositions can be sur...

Are you considering pleading guilty in your case? Before you do, you must consider all the consequences of that decision. There are many things that may happen with a guilty plea that you may not anticipated. Experienced Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyers will be quick to tell you that one of the...

The arresting officer must follow the law when obtaining evidence against you. If he or she didn’t, your Grand Rapids criminal defense attorney may be able to file a motion to suppress the evidence obtained by the officer....

The Miranda warnings that are given to any suspect arrested by the police includes a notice that you have the right to speak to a criminal defense attorney. This is a crucial right that you should make sure to assert as soon as you can. To learn more about why it is so important to…...

Criminal laws are set in place to protect those who have been victimized. However, all too often, prosecutors get it all wrong and go after people who are innocent of any wrongdoing. Imagine a scenario where a worker for a photo development lab processes an order, only to find what he believes to be...