Whether you are a sports fan or not, everyone is familiar with the phrase, “Home Court Advantage” and the benefits that coincide with the team that has this luxury.  “Home Court Advantage” results in teams staying relaxed, comfortable and confident as they are accustomed to their surroundings.  Athletes are able to maintain the perfect routine as they prepare for the big game; they are able to avoid tiresome travel, sleep in their own bed, remain focused and ultimately play the game on a court that they have practiced on day in and day out. 

This advantage is analogous to retaining a local attorney to handle your criminal charge.  In fact, this advantage is imperative when facing a criminal charge as it is not a simple and fun game; it is a complex and often daunting task for criminal defendants which can ultimately affect a client’s entire way of life.  Why is this so important?

The reason this is imperative reminds me of a recent issue I discussed with a potential client facing a probation violation.  For confidentiality reasons I’ll call this potential client Sam.  Sam is a resident of Seattle, Washington and was facing two criminal charges that Sam obtained while vacationing in Chelan.  Sam had retained a criminal defense attorney from the Seattle area on a previous charge and decided to retain this attorney again.  Instead of referring Sam to a local attorney, this Seattle attorney (Mr. Seattle) decided to handle the case for Sam.  Mr. Seattle had experience in Seattle area courts, but had never taken a case in Chelan County.  Mr. Seattle expressed to Sam that this would be a simple and easy case that would likely result in a dismissal.  Unaware of the local court rules, Mr. Seattle attempted to appear by phone, which is not permitted and resulted in Sam appearing at several court proceedings without Mr. Seattle present.  Ultimately, Mr. Seattle informed Sam that he had never experienced so many issues with a criminal court and could not help; Mr. Seattle withdrew from representation without notifying Sam.  Sam appeared at the next hearing and was informed by the court that Mr. Seattle had withdrawn. Uncertain of what to do next and wanting to take care of the charge, Sam made the terrible decision to plead guilty without an attorney. 

Although Sam had limited criminal history, the Court sentenced Sam to Supervised Probation and required Sam to obtain an alcohol drug assessment.  As a result, Sam is now facing a probation violation for the failure to complete an alcohol drug assessment within the required time and potentially additional jail time, even though Sam does not have an alcohol problem.  While there is no guarantee, a local, experienced criminal defense attorney accustomed to the standard conditions of a plea would have negotiated a sentence that did not include an alcohol drug assessment, thus Sam could have avoided the current headache.

This advice does come with a caveat.  Not all local attorneys who claim to practice criminal defense are equipped to properly handle your criminal charge.  Furthermore, there are some exceptions to this rule; for instance, if you decide to hire one of the few well-known major criminal defense firms out of the Seattle area.  These attorneys are knowledgeable, experienced and typically provide quality representation.  Keep in my mind, these attorneys frequently confer or associate with our office to assist in your case.     

The last and potentially most important advice I can provide is this – Do the research!  Unlike the world of sports, a criminal charge is not a game and can negatively impact your life.  However, at the end of your search, I can confidently and proudly say that you will not find a more qualified set of attorneys to handle your criminal charge than the attorneys at my firm.

Each attorney at Woods & Brangwin, PLLC understands the criminal process in North Central Washington and is well equipped to handle your criminal charge.  Whether you are facing a charge of DUI, Assault or Disorderly Conduct, WE are experienced, aggressive and familiar with the local practices in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan Counties to best represent your needs and give you the “Home Court Advantage.”