Plea to the Bench in Orlando
What is it?
A plea to the bench is when a Defendant enters a plea of Guilty or No Contest directly to the Judge, forgoing the process of negotiating a plea resolution with the Prosecutor on the case. Orlando Best Criminal Lawyers know how to use a plea to the bench effectively to get the best possible resolution for their Client’s criminal case.
When is a plea to the bench used in a criminal case?
A plea to the bench is usually used by a Criminal Defense Attorney when the Defense Attorney believes that the Judge will give the client a better plea resolution than the Prosecutor on the case. The Defense Attorney will set a court date called a plea conference, where the Defense Attorney will approach the Judge and state an intent to enter a plea to the bench. The Judge may then choose to make an offer, or not make an offer and tell the Defense Lawyer that the Defendant will have to “plea blind.”
How effective is it?
A plea to the bench can be an effective tool to negotiate a better deal for a Client. Oftentimes, this will result in the Client receiving a better deal from the Judge than they would have otherwise received from the Prosecutor. When the case is handled by Orlando Best Criminal Lawyers, such lawyers know which Judges are favorable for entering pleas to the bench and which are not.
Consult Orlando Best Criminal Lawyers to discuss the right choice for your case:
We have great criminal defense lawyers at our firm with years of experience handling misdemeanors and felonies. We have handled over 3,000 criminal cases and over 100 jury trials, and have extensive experience utilizing pleas to the bench to benefit our clients. If you or your loved one are in need of information on Plea to the Bench, call us at 407-930-8912 to speak with a qualified legal professional or fill out the contact form on this page. We’re available 24/7, we offer free initial consultation and payment plans. In addition to our Orlando location, we have offices in the following cities across the state of Florida:
- Daytona Beach
- Kissimmee
- Melbourne
- Lakeland
- Ocala
- Tampa
- Fort Myers
- Sanford
- Miami
- Jacksonville
- Fort Lauderdale
- Sarasota
- Clearwater
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