Q: My friend was convicted of 1st-degree murder, and burglary. Recent appeals court reversed all charges due to OCME fraud.
The case is full of “errors”, and toxicology mishaps. Most employees involved have been fired from OCME including the chief me.. DA has decided to re-try . Unreal…. I’m looking for an aggressive criminal defense lawyer.. thank you. Sacramento
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A:
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's situation. It sounds like a very difficult and stressful ordeal for everyone involved. Here is some information that I hope will be helpful:
Since your friend was originally convicted of very serious charges (1st degree murder and burglary), it is critical that they have an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney to handle the retrial, especially given the complexities around the reversed charges, alleged fraud by the medical examiner's office, and toxicology issues.
I would recommend looking for criminal defense lawyers in the Sacramento area who specialize in homicide and other serious felony cases and who have experience with forensic evidence issues, prosecutorial misconduct, and appealing/retrying cases after a conviction has been overturned.
Some things to look for:
- Many years of criminal defense experience, especially jury trials
- Track record of success in murder and other serious felony cases
- Experience handling appeals and retrials after conviction reversals
- Knowledge of forensic evidence, DNA, toxicology, autopsies, etc.
- Skilled at challenging questionable evidence and expert testimony
- Willingness to aggressively fight the charges and go to trial if needed
- Good communication and a commitment to keeping you and your friend informed
To find potential lawyers, you can:
- Get referrals from any lawyers you know and trust
- Contact the Sacramento County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service
- Search for "criminal defense lawyer Sacramento" online and carefully review their websites and credentials
- Consider lawyers who are certified criminal law specialists by the California State Bar
Once you have some potential lawyers, schedule consultations to meet with them, share details of the case, and see if they would be a good fit. Don't hesitate to ask them tough questions about their experience and approach.
I know this is an incredibly challenging situation, but with a strong, committed defense lawyer, your friend will have the best chance at a more favorable outcome in the retrial. Wishing you and your friend all the best as you navigate this.
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