Not Guilty Plea
A pleading can be guilty, not guilty, or no contest. It is a formal response of the defendant to a criminal charge, which is presented upon to enter a pleading at arraignment – the first appearance in the court. Entering a plea determines to the Judge how to formally note or “enter” it in the court’s official file. The beginning point of the case for a defendant is a pleading, and as the case progresses there will be opportunities to change. It is, therefore, important to choose the first plea wisely, though some are easier to change than others.
A not guilty plea is a defendant’s answer to a criminal charge that he or she pleads not guilty to the court upon asking. The plea determines how the court will proceed with the trial. If a defendant doesn’t enter a plea at all, the court will file a not guilty plea on the defendant’s behalf. In many cases, a plea of not guilty will be followed by efforts to a jury trial. It depends on your Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer how to set a court date and argue on your behalf at trial.Criminal Charges and Not Guilty Plea
It is obvious that a defendant who pleads not guilty is refuting all charges against him or her. There are many reasons to enter a not guilty plea, such as legal strategy that influences the plea. If you are innocent and want to get the opportunity to have your case tried before a jury, you enter into a not guilty plea. Similarly, if the defendant doesn’t believe the charge is justified, he or she may enter a not guilty plea.
If a defendant has enough defense to the criminal charges, he or she may also choose to enter a not guilty plea. For example, one of the defenses is the insanity defense, meaning if a defendant can prove that he or she was insane during the crime was committed, and he or she may receive a minimized sentence or in some cases avoid sentencing altogether.
Under the law, even if you are charged or indicted, you are considered innocent until proven guilty. There are additional specifications or aggravating factors that can carry their own punishment or may make your potential punishment harsher. If you enter a plea of not guilty, the burden of proof on the prosecutor. Now, the prosecutor has to put all elements together and prove beyond a reasonable doubt. You need a professional Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer like Sean Logue to defend your case after thoroughly investigating.Why hire a lawyer for not guilty plea?
The main objective of your Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer is to find enough evidence to prove that you are not guilty. The lawyer will investigate the matter thoroughly and argue it before the court. The main objectives of your lawyer will be:
- Investigate the facts or legal issues are in conflict
- Fully investigate and explore the possibility of fair trial based on defense evidence
- Finding evidence that proves defense as accurately as possible
- If the trial can’t be avoided, your lawyer will ensure it runs as smoothly as possible