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Need of Representation
- Thread Starter smitty111
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PulledOver
New Member
The answer is YES. You need a lawyer.
If you were sick, would you ask whether you should see a doctor? If you needed an operation, would you do surgery on yourself? Representing yourself, especially in a criminal case, makes about as much sense as operating on yourself.
Find a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable and have him or her represent you. In the short run and in the long run, you will be glad you did.
If you were sick, would you ask whether you should see a doctor? If you needed an operation, would you do surgery on yourself? Representing yourself, especially in a criminal case, makes about as much sense as operating on yourself.
Find a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable and have him or her represent you. In the short run and in the long run, you will be glad you did.
Malibu_Barbie
New Member
I agree with PulledOver. Even a court-appointed attorney is better than no counsel at all (and I've seen some do an excellent job). There's also numerous attorneys who hire counsel to represent them in matters pending against them ... so that should tell you something. 
PulledOver
New Member
....best put by Abraham Lincoln and Andy Sipowitz
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, "A man who represents himself has a fool for a client and a jackass for a lawyer!"
Andy Sipowitz, the homicide detective on NYPD Blue said, "You'd better lawyer up!"
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, "A man who represents himself has a fool for a client and a jackass for a lawyer!"
Andy Sipowitz, the homicide detective on NYPD Blue said, "You'd better lawyer up!"
I agree with them, it's better if you have a lawyer to represent you. They knows best!
___________________________________
Social Security Disability Attorney
"To live outside the law you must be honest."
___________________________________
Social Security Disability Attorney
"To live outside the law you must be honest."
PulledOver
New Member
Whether its a speeding ticket, MIP, DUI / DWI ...whatever... you need a lawyer.
Simply put, if you have been charged with a crime, you need a lawyer. Period. Whether its a speeding ticket, MIP, DWI / DUI, or a more serious charge, you always will fare much better represented by counsel.
Ours is an adversary system. When one is charged with a crime, no matter how minor, their adversary is the government. Think about that for a second. The government is not just on the other side, the government is the other side.
It is naive for one charged with a crime to think they can beat the government at the government's own game, playing by rules set by the government (of which he or she likely is almost wholly unaware), on a field of play controlled by the government. Unrepresented defendants generally don't appreciate the extent of their ignorance of both criminal procedure and substantive criminal law and, more importantly, the practical effect of their ignorance. How can one even know if he or she is being treated fairly when they don't know the rules of "the game" or how to play? ANSWER: One cannot.
Generally, unrepresented defendants don't (or refuse to) appreciate that, by custom and practice, the "system" operates in such a way that defendants who are represented are treated much more favorably. The "system" doesn't run a smoothly when defendants represent themselves. The "system" doesn't like it when defendant's represent themselves and unrepresented defendants are treated accordingly. In practice, in the "real world," our criminal justice system is not what most would consider "fair" to those charged with a crime who are not represented by counsel. For an adversary system to work, there have to be adversaries. Every defendant needs an attorney to be a formidable adversary and protect his or her rights.
Simply put, if you have been charged with a crime, you need a lawyer. Period. Whether its a speeding ticket, MIP, DWI / DUI, or a more serious charge, you always will fare much better represented by counsel.
Ours is an adversary system. When one is charged with a crime, no matter how minor, their adversary is the government. Think about that for a second. The government is not just on the other side, the government is the other side.
It is naive for one charged with a crime to think they can beat the government at the government's own game, playing by rules set by the government (of which he or she likely is almost wholly unaware), on a field of play controlled by the government. Unrepresented defendants generally don't appreciate the extent of their ignorance of both criminal procedure and substantive criminal law and, more importantly, the practical effect of their ignorance. How can one even know if he or she is being treated fairly when they don't know the rules of "the game" or how to play? ANSWER: One cannot.
Generally, unrepresented defendants don't (or refuse to) appreciate that, by custom and practice, the "system" operates in such a way that defendants who are represented are treated much more favorably. The "system" doesn't run a smoothly when defendants represent themselves. The "system" doesn't like it when defendant's represent themselves and unrepresented defendants are treated accordingly. In practice, in the "real world," our criminal justice system is not what most would consider "fair" to those charged with a crime who are not represented by counsel. For an adversary system to work, there have to be adversaries. Every defendant needs an attorney to be a formidable adversary and protect his or her rights.
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