FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Understand the case.Prepare the defense.
From the first contact with investigators to the next court appearance, a federal matter calls for careful decisions at every stage.
Start with the stage of the matter
An investigation, a filed charge, and a sentencing hearing present different questions. At an initial appearance, the court addresses the charges and issues that can include release or detention. Later proceedings may involve evidence review, motions, plea discussions, or trial. A charge is an allegation; the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
A useful first discussion identifies the actual documents, court, and deadlines involved. Avoid relying on a general description of an offense or another person’s experience to predict what your case requires.
A plan grounded in the record
Ask how the evidence will be reviewed, what issues require investigation, and which decisions are approaching. The answer may involve records, communications, witness accounts, search procedures, or the specific language of a charging document.
Adams Defense Law’s practice includes investigations, financial crime allegations, federal drug and gun charges, and racketeering matters. Explore the individual practice pages below to identify the closest starting point for your conversation.
Keep the next stage in view
A case can raise questions about both the current proceeding and what follows. Trial preparation, the consequences of a proposed plea, sentencing issues, and potential appellate questions require their own assessment. No website can resolve those choices for a particular person.
Contact either office to discuss the matter with Joshua. If a date is approaching, put that date at the beginning of your request and ask the firm to confirm whether it can assist.
PREPARE FOR A CONVERSATION
A useful place to start.
- Court name and case number, if assigned
- Next hearing or response deadline
- Whether you are seeking new counsel or a consultation
Begin with contact details and dates. Ask the firm how to provide any documents securely.
Your questions.
Does an indictment establish guilt?
No. An indictment states charges. At trial, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Should I wait for a court date to contact counsel?
You may contact the firm during an investigation or after charges. A subpoena or agency request may need attention before there is a court appearance.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR DEFENSE
A clearer next step.
Contact Joshua Adams about your matter and the availability of representation.
Please do not send confidential information before the firm confirms representation.
Contacting the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship.