Without this right, the accused would be effectively defenseless. Your attorney is the only advocate standing between you and the government’s team of prosecutors, who may be seeking to deprive you of your freedom for an extended period of time.

As a criminal defendant, you are never required to speak with law enforcement and should not do so without an attorney present. The government cannot compel you to be a witness against yourself, and you cannot be forced to testify at your own trial unless you choose to do so.

The government cannot force you to testify as a criminal defendant, nor can it prevent you from testifying in your own defense. You always have the right to present your side of the case to the judge or jury.

The government cannot force you to testify as a criminal defendant, nor can it prevent you from testifying in your own defense. You always have the right to present your side of the case to the judge or jury.

In every criminal trial, the government must present witnesses in an effort to obtain a conviction. Your attorney has the right to cross-examine those witnesses and to highlight inconsistencies in their testimony, potential bias, prior convictions, and other admissible evidence that may affect their credibility.

In a criminal trial, the government carries the burden of proving every element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt. You are under no obligation to prove your innocence; instead, the government must prove its case against you. If the government fails to meet this burden, the jury must return a verdict of not guilty.