Marion, OH asked in Criminal Law for Ohio

Q: Looking for a book that will give, in detail, how to write your own court motions without spending $1000 on it.

The court appointed criminal attorney IS NOT a criminal attorney and she refuses to file motions, deliver discovery, visit her client or even talk to her client so now he's trying to file his own motions in his matter.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Andrew Popp
Andrew Popp
Answered
  • Cuyahoga Falls, OH
  • Licensed in Ohio

A: Generally speaking, you can purchase a criminal practice and procedure book online. Some of the used books are cheaper, but they may be out of date. You will want to read through the current rules of criminal procedure to ensure everything you are doing is in compliance with the current law. Many courts have local rules which you need to review as well. From there, you will want to research the pertinent statutes to determine the legal elements you are contesting, and/or any legal defenses. In order to support your motion you need to cite binding, or if none, persuasive case law. You can find some cases for free from various places online, (Google scholar, e.g.) although the best sources almost always charge money.

All in all, you're really asking how to practice law. Attorneys work for years and years to get good at this. If you can find a way to hire a private attorney your results will almost certainly be better.

Best of luck.

Dimitrios Makridis agrees with this answer

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Licensed in Ohio

A: The nearest public law school will have practice guides in their library that you could use for free and they generally have very helpful librarians.

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