Federal Criminal Process
Criminal cases in federal courts work in a similar way to those in state courts. The case begins with an arraignment where the court reads the charges faced by the defendant and decides bail conditions. The court then schedules pre-trial hearings designed to allow the defendant to discover the government’s evidence against them and to file motions to exclude this evidence.
In federal criminal cases, defendants always have the right to participate in jury selection at their trial and to cross-examine every government witness. Our experienced lawyers could stand with you at every stage of the case. From an initial arrest to the final trial; every stage of the case is critical.
Examples of Federal Offenses
The sorts of cases that a United States court can try are extremely limited. Our team of lawyers has experience defending against them all.
Congress passes laws that criminalize certain behavior. Common examples of these laws include:
21 U.S.C. §841:
It is illegal for any person to distribute, manufacture, or intend to distribute any controlled substance. The penalties for conviction are harsh and can be as severe as a life sentence without a possibility for parole.
18 U.S.C. §922:
Certain people can never be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. These include people sentenced to a term in jail of more than one year, people addicted to drugs, and people who were admitted to a mental hospital. A court can sentence violators to up to ten years in prison.
18 U.S.C. §2251:
It is illegal for any person to coerce or otherwise convince a child to participate in the production of any pornographic material. This section only applies if a person takes a child across state lines for this purpose. A conviction carries a mandatory minimum penalty ranging from fifteen to thirty years in prison.
