After being accused of a crime or charged with a criminal offense, your rights will matter more than ever before. Unfortunately, many people don’t fully understand what their rights are or how easily they can be overlooked if no one is there to protect them.
That’s where a criminal defense lawyer comes in. A skilled attorney doesn’t just argue your case; they stand as the line of defense between you and the government, fighting so that your most important rights as a criminal defendant are respected at every stage of the process.
Patituce & Associates in Cleveland is known for tenaciously defending our clients’ rights as if we were standing up for ourselves.
The Right to Remain Silent
One of the first rights you are reminded of during an arrest is the right to remain silent. This right protects you from self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment. It’s easy to think you can explain yourself or talk your way out of charges, but in reality, anything you say can be twisted and used against you later.
A defense lawyer can speak for you so you don’t make statements that harm your case. Our Cleveland criminal defense attorneys at Patituce & Associates advise our clients on when to speak and when to stay silent, aiming to prevent missteps during police questioning and other steps.
The Right to a Fair Trial
Every defendant has the constitutional right to a fair trial, which means being presumed innocent until proven guilty, having the state carry the burden of proof, and being judged by an impartial jury. But protecting this right requires vigilance. Prosecutors sometimes overreach, and courts don’t always take the right steps to ensure fairness. Your defense lawyer is the one who insists on holding the state to its burden, challenging improper evidence, and making sure the trial process is balanced.
At Patituce & Associates in Cleveland, Ohio, our team has handled more than 400 jury trials. That amount of experience lets our clients receive a strong defense rooted in trial-tested strategies.
The Right Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
The Fourth Amendment protects you from unlawful searches and seizures. Police need proper justification, such as a warrant or valid probable cause, to stop your car, search your home, or seize your property. If they fail to follow the law, the evidence they gather may be inadmissible in court.
A defense lawyer’s role is to review how the evidence was obtained and, when necessary, file motions to suppress illegally collected evidence. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Joseph Patituce knows exactly how investigations are supposed to be conducted and how to identify when officers or investigators cut corners.
The Right to Legal Counsel
You are guaranteed the right to an attorney, but the quality of representation is not guaranteed. A lawyer with little experience in criminal defense may not have the skills to challenge the state effectively. A public defender might have too many cases to handle at once to give your case the attention that it requires.
When you hire Patituce & Associates, you are working with a team that has more than 70 years of combined experience in criminal defense. With us leading the way, you won’t face prosecutors alone or be pressured into taking a bad plea deal without understanding your options, which might look much different than what the state has claimed.
The Right to Due Process
Due process is the backbone of our justice system. It is meant to ensure that your case proceeds according to established rules and procedures: timely hearings, proper charges, and no shortcuts by the government.
A criminal defense lawyer is there to make sure prosecutors play by the rules. Whether it’s meeting deadlines, challenging vague or improper charges, or pushing back against unfair tactics, your attorney holds the state accountable, so your right to due process is never trampled.
Standing Between You and the Power of the State
The criminal justice system gives the state tremendous power. Your rights exist to protect you from abuse of that power, but those rights mean little if no one enforces them. Make a Cleveland criminal defense lawyer the one who fights for the scales of justice to stay balanced.
At Patituce & Associates in Cleveland, you will find:
- A board-certified criminal defense specialist
- A former prosecutor who knows how the state builds cases
- 70+ years of combined legal experience
- A proven track record with over 400 jury trials
If you are facing criminal charges in Cleveland, don’t leave your rights unprotected. Contact us today for a confidential consultation and learn how an experienced defense team can stand between you and the power of the state. Dial (440) 771-1175 to begin.
