CHOOSING A LAWYER

Mr. Green’s views on the quality of a defense attorney

The choice of which lawyer you should hire to defend you in your criminal or DUI case is a very important one. It is important to bear in mind that, although many lawyers hold themselves out as criminal or DUI lawyers, an enormous difference exists in the different skill levels of those lawyers.

Among the factors that you should consider when hiring a lawyer are the following:

The lawyer’s experience litigating cases like yours

Litigation means actively challenging, or fighting, the prosecutor’s case against you in court. Many criminal defense attorneys, even those who work as part of large firms, have very limited experience in the courtroom. Even more troubling is the fact that many of these lawyers have little or no experience in trial.

I am a trial lawyer. I have been in the courtroom nearly every day of my career, and in the past four years I have completed nearly 25 jury trials. Why is this important? If you’ve been charged with a crime, you need an attorney who can fight for you, not just “plead out” your case. If you have a case worth fighting, you need an attorney who has the skill and confidence to defend you during a jury trial. Lawyers who have limited experience presenting evidence, making objections, and giving arguments to a jury may not represent you as well as someone who has these skills. Much worse is the risk that a lawyer who doesn’t have these skills may also lack the confidence to defend you at trial, and may be more likely to steer you away from exercising your constitutional right to a trial, where the government must prove that you are actually guilty.

The lawyer’s reputation

A lawyer’s reputation among judges, prosecutors, court staff, and other qualified criminal defense attorneys is important. You should have concerns about being represented by a lawyer who you have reason to perceive as someone who is too eager to avoid trial because of fear of going to court, or simply an unwillingness to put the necessary work into your case. On the other hand, a lawyer that is too aggressive may have communication problems with the court and the prosecutor, and may hurt your interests by not being able to resolve your case short of trial when appropriate.

I pride myself on having developed a positive reputation among those with whom I work (other attorneys), among those whom I work against (prosecutors), and among Arizona judges. I also believe that my reputation is defined by my philosophy and approach to being a lawyer: I am an attorney who aggressively represents my client in the courtroom, while maintaining a very courteous and professional relationship with the prosecutor assigned to the case, and with the judge, to achieve the best result possible for the only person that matters—my client.

The lawyer’s particular skills

A quick glance through the phonebook, or on the internet, reveals law firms that, in addition to criminal law, do personal injury, bankruptcy, divorce, and all other sorts of cases.

My law practice is almost exclusively criminal defense, with an emphasis on DUI cases, especially those involving police officer blood draws. I can say without hesitation that I can provide the highest quality representation to anyone charged with a crime in Arizona. More importantly, I am the most qualified attorney in the State of Arizona to defend your DUI case if your blood has been drawn by a police officer.