Cobb County Criminal Defense Lawyers

Criminal law is complicated and its proceedings can be confusing to navigate. While every court in Georgia is governed by the same state and federal laws, local rules and ordinances can vary among counties, which may result in a different standard in Cobb County than the standard in surrounding jurisdictions.

Further, the law is interpretable so what is permissible in one judge’s courtroom may not be acceptable in another based on the way that each judge construes the law. For those reasons, it is important to obtain a locally seasoned Cobb County criminal lawyer if you have been charged with a crime in Marietta or elsewhere in Cobb County. Call an experienced defense lawyer today to discuss your case and the steps you should take.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right to legal representation to every defendant in a criminal case. If a defendant is unable to afford an attorney, a public defender may be appointed to represent them. While a public defender will fulfill their role and provide the guaranteed right to counsel, there is no constitutional guarantee that she or he will be able to devote the amount of time necessary to each case to get all of their clients the best possible outcome.

A Cobb County criminal lawyer’s job is to ensure that their clients understand the charges that have been filed, their legal rights, and the possible options available for adjudicating their case. A private attorney is not required to take a case, which decreases the likelihood that the sheer volume of their workload would prohibit them from giving an individual’s case the priority that it needs.

Moreover, when working with a private criminal attorney in Cobb County, the individual makes the decision about who will be representing them. This means that the client gets to choose who to entrust with their freedom and future by selecting specific representation to handle their case.

Post arrest, all legal matters in criminal cases are held in either state court or superior court. The designated hearing location is determined by the classification of the crime that someone has been charged with.

The criminal division of the State Court of Cobb County hears misdemeanor criminal cases. A misdemeanor offense includes cases involving offenses such as simple assault and larceny. Aggravated misdemeanor offense cases are also held in state court, which is located in Marietta, Georgia. The maximum penalty that a state court judge may impose for any case heard is one-year incarceration and a fine up to $5,000.

A felony offense is any criminal charge that is punishable with more than 12 months’ incarceration and fines that exceed $1,000. If a person is a defendant in a felony criminal case, the case will be heard in the Cobb County Superior Court, which is also located in Marietta. Felony offenses include robbery, and possession with intent to sell.

In the absence of a Cobb County criminal attorney advising otherwise, people must report to the appropriate court for any hearing related to their case.

Any criminal conviction will create a criminal record, which is available to the public, and can impact where you live, where you work, and what opportunities are available to you. Because the penalties, if convicted, can alter the remainder of your life, if you have been charged with a crime in Marietta, the best decision is to immediately contact a Cobb County criminal lawyer, who can establish a good defense.