Criminal Defense
Louisiana incarcerates individuals at a rate more than one and half times greater than the United States taken as a whole. And while executions are currently on hold, the death penalty remains on the books for conviction of first-degree murder, first-degree rape of a person under 13. Alternative punishments for murder and rape include life imprisonment at hard labor without the possibility of parole, probation or a suspended sentence.
If you get arrested for a serious offense in Louisiana, your freedom, your finances, and even your life can be at risk. A criminal record can also cause you to lose your job or keep you from getting the job or professional license you desire. Your right to vote or own a gun can be impacted, as well as your relationship with your family and your standing in the community. Try to lease an apartment or get a loan, and you’ll find that a felony conviction has repercussions in just about every aspect of your life.
With so much at stake, you want to make sure to get advice and representation from a knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorney. Criminal defense is our main area of practice at Ward Law. We’ve helped numerous individuals out of difficult spots for more than a decade. We’ve been able to get evidence suppressed, get our clients released from custody without charges, get cases dismissed, get charges reduced to avoid jail time or sex offender registration, and, of course, secure “not guilty” verdicts in court time and again.
Ward Law defends people in Baton Rouge charged with misdemeanors and serious felonies in Louisiana state and federal courts, including drug crimes, sex crimes, homicide and murder.
A Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Attorney with Jury Trial Experience and Success
A person accused of committing a crime in the U.S. has a constitutional right to trial by jury. Not all criminal defense attorneys are comfortable going to trial, however. Those attorneys might prefer to negotiate a plea bargain rather than go to trial, but they are at a disadvantage in bargaining when the prosecutor knows they don’t have jury trial experience. Chuck Ward of Ward Law has handled numerous jury trials as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, including winning “not guilty” verdicts from unanimous juries in cases ranging from battery and illegal possession of a firearm to second-degree murder.
Whether you decide to negotiate a plea or go to trial, and whether you decide to request a trial before a judge or jury, are important decisions you’ll make with your lawyer to get the best result in your case. But being represented by a skilled attorney with success in jury trials means you are well-prepared to follow whatever route gets you the best result.
Ward Law Will Protect Your Constitutional Rights
You have many constitutional rights as a person accused of a crime beyond the right to a jury trial, such as the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, the right to a speedy trial, the right to confront the witnesses against you, and more. You also have the right to receive any evidence the prosecution has that could tend to prove you are not guilty of the crime charged. Some of these rights might be explained to you by law enforcement or court officers, but others will not. Without an experienced defense attorney on your side, you could unknowingly waive important rights or fail to take advantage of them for your best defense. With Ward Law representing you, you can be assured that your rights will be explained to you and upheld and that you will be able to exercise your rights in your defense.
Make Your First Call Be to an Experienced Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Attorney
Before you talk to friends or family, call a bail bondsman, boast to other arrestees in the jail, and certainly before you talk to any law enforcement officers, call Ward Law if you’ve been arrested in Baton Rouge. Your rights can be seriously compromised by any moves you make (or don’t make) and anything you say (or don’t say) without the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney. By calling our office first, we’ll be able to protect your rights and put you in the best position for achieving a good outcome in your case.
Call our office in Baton Rouge at 225-330-6677 or 866-928-3047 for a free consultation.
