Don’t panic, it’s just a pre-trial. We understand that “trial” is in the name but think of it as a meeting between your attorney and the prosecutor. There is no trial at the pre-trial. Here’s what you can expect.
Exchange of Discovery
Discovery is a fancy-ish word for evidence and information that is relevant to your case. The prosecutor has an obligation in the State of Ohio to turnover items related to the case indictment, information, or complaint, and which are material to the preparation of a defense, or are intended for use by the prosecutor as evidence at the trial, or were obtained from or belong to the defendant, within the possession of, or reasonably available to the state. The Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure details exactly what those items are. Upon the filing of a written demand, the prosecutor is on notice to turn those items over. A topic of discussion at most pre-trials is the exchange of discovery and what items are outstanding.
Plea Negotiations
Depending on the court that your case is pending in, plea negotiations may or may not happen at a pre-trial. Your attorney will have conversations with the prosecutor at a pre-trial, however, in felony cases, most plea offers are reviewed by a supervisor before formally extending the offer. Our criminal defense attorneys typically submit a formal plea offer request in writing for the prosecutor’s review. If there is an offer on the table at the time of the pre-trial, it is possible that the case may be resolved at the time of the pre-trial. Our criminal defense attorneys never rush you to make a decision and will request a continuance to further discuss the plea offer, if necessary.
What do I wear?
There’s always a chance that you see the Judge at the time of a pre-trial. For that reason, it is important to dress appropriately. We recommend business casual at a minimum. Dressing appropriately is a sign of respect to the Court and the process. There are many times in which you will have no interaction with the court during a pre-trial but it is better to err on the side of caution.
The AJLJ Law Difference
We let our clients know upfront what to expect at the pre-trial. Every client is provided a Welcome Packet which goes over legal terms, the process, and the ways to reach us with questions or concerns. Our criminal defense attorneys welcome a phone conference prior to the pre-trial hearing to update you on the status of your case and what to expect at the next court date. We get it, having a pending criminal case is scary and overwhelming. Even more reason to feel comfortable and confident with your legal counsel.
