By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction to Part 2 In Part 1 of this two-part series, the basics of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel at the plea bargaining stage of a criminal case were explored. Part 2 delves into the more complex, and often difficult…
By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction – A System of Negotiations, and Very Few Trials Black’s Law Dictionary defines a “plea bargain” as: [a] negotiated agreement between a prosecutor and a criminal defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offense or to one of multiple…
By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction – A Massive ChangeTo Plea Bargains in the Colorado Criminal Justice System Quietly, with little fanfare, the Colorado Supreme Court, in the case of People of the State of Colorado, v. Christopher Anthony Mazzarelli, massively changed what was previously considered fundamental…
By H. Michael Steinberg, Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction – The Jasper Plea Bargaining Deadline Date Lawyers in the criminal courts of Colorado owe their clients detailed explanations of the often confusing and frightening world that is the criminal justice system. One of the procedures commonly used by Colorado’s judges…
By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction: Knowing the Players in the Colorado Criminal Justice System When a person is charged with a crime in the Colorado criminal justice system a thorough understanding of the balance of power among the three key actors that will play a role…
By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Introduction – Understanding Pleas the Role of Colorado Procedural “Rule 11″ Colorado Rule 11 (Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure provides for three basic pleas in a criminal case (not including the NGI plea – not guilty by reason of insanity – not…