Do you have a question about the services Daniel Ross LLC provides or about a criminal case? Here are some frequently asked questions and answers…

Question: How much are your fees?
Hiring a private attorney is not cheap, but it shouldn’t cost a fortune either. Daniel Ross charges reasonable Attorney’s Fees.  He will sit down with you and your loved ones for a free consultation to discuss your case and will quote the fee he believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, depending on the charges, jurisdiction, criminal history, and the complexity of the case.  Each case is unique and different.  Should you decide to hire Daniel Ross for your case; the terms of the representation will be spelled out in clear language that will be easy for you to understand in a written agreement.  The Law Office of Daniel Ross, LLC offers flexible payment plans and accepts most major credit cards.

Question: Can you guarantee what the outcome of my case will be?
No attorney can guarantee a particular result or outcome, or at least they shouldn’t. What Daniel Ross can promise is that he will aggressively defend you and do everything in his power to obtain a favorable result and get you your freedom back. Either by pursuing a dismissal of the case, effectively negotiating a plea bargain with the Prosecutor for a reduced charge or taking the case all the way to trial, he will provide honest advice and give your case the individual attention it deserves.

It should be noted that fees based on the Attorney achieving a certain result or specific outcome (Contingency Fee) are unethical for criminal defense attorneys.

Question: What should I do if I am arrested or if the police want to speak with me about an investigation?
If you are arrested, immediately assert your right to an attorney and do not give a statement to the police. If you have something to say to the police, let your Lawyer do it for you.  Talking to law enforcement officers without first contacting an attorney can be detrimental to your defense.  Contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney before an interrogation, will help ensure your constitutional rights will be protected.  Police are experts in the use of aggressive interrogation tactics and your statements can and will be used against you.  Do yourself a favor and lawyer up!

Question: What is an Arraignment?
This is the first formal presentation of charges to the defendant, who must enter a plea. The court will generally enter a plea of not guilty for you. The arraignment is open to the public. The court typically will set future court dates including pre-trial conferences and a trial date.

Question: What is a Jury Trial?
A jury trial is a legal proceeding where the defense and prosecution present their case to a panel of 12 jurors, who then deliberate and determine innocence or guilt.  The members of the jury are selected on the first day of trial in a process known as voir dire. Once the jurors have been selected the State will do an opening statement summarizing its case. The Defense may make an opening statement as well. The State and Defense may then call witnesses and present evidence.  Once all the evidence is heard the Defense and the State will conduct closing arguments.  The Jurors will then be given instructions which state the law that applies to the case and the jurors will retire to deliberate.  They must decide whether the state has presented evidence to establish “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant committed each and every element of the charged crime. The jurors must unanimously agree on either guilt or innocence. If they cannot, the trial will end in a hung jury or mistrial and the case may be tried again.  Once deliberations have concluded the jury foreperson will give the verdict forms to the Judge and the verdict will be read aloud in open court. 

Question: What is a Plea Bargain?
A plea bargain is the process whereby the defendant and prosecutor reach a mutually satisfactory disposition of a criminal case, which often results in the prosecutor reducing the charge(s) and/or dismissing certain counts or making a specific sentence recommendation to the court. Plea negotiations are between the defense and the prosecutor and do not involve the Judge.

Question: What is a Deposition?
A deposition is sworn testimony of a witness taken outside of court in the presence of the attorney for the defense and prosecution, as well as a court reporter. The attorney taking the deposition asks the witness questions which are answered under oath. A deposition can be used at trial to impeach or discredit a witness’s testimony or can be read to a jury if the witness is unavailable.

Have a question about a criminal case or criminal procedure?  Call our office to schedule a free consultation. We welcome your calls 816-931-5000.