The process of a Criminal Defense Trial in Hillsborough County, Tampa Florida
There are several components to a criminal defense trial in Hillsborough County.
A Trial may be set after several Disposition hearings.
It takes a good amount of time to get your case information from the State Attorney’s office to your criminal defense lawyer. Your lawyer will have to evaluate that information and possibly take Depositions of their witnesses.
A Deposition is a sworn statement where we ask a series of questions. It is not in a courtroom, it is in an office. It is not very formal, but it is important.
There may be police officers that will testify against you and your lawyer may want to take their Depositions before any court hearings to see what they would say.
Your criminal defense lawyer could explore Pre-Trial Motions, such as a Motion to Suppress Evidence used against you – if for example your loved one was charged with possession of a controlled substance, your lawyer could file a legal Motion so that the judge can keep that from ever being heard in a courtroom. This is a very important motion. Another type of Motion is a Motion to Dismiss – where your case may be dismissed before trial.
If after all the Depositions are taken and are finished with all of the court proceedings and Dispositions – your case may be set for trial.