What to look for when hiring a criminal defense attorney for your Duluth or St. Louis County case

When you are charged with a crime, the courthouse you must go to is based on the county you were charged in. Walking into a bustling Hennepin County courthouse in downtown Minneapolis can be very different than a courthouse in a more rural part of the state. The judges, the prosecutors, and atmosphere impact the case. This blog article will look at considerations for cases that will be held at the St. Louis County courthouse in Duluth, MN.

Unique Features of Duluth

Duluth is a city unlike any other in Minnesota. It’s a large city with more than 86,000 people. But it also acts as a hub for the more rural parts of the north shore, the iron range, and northern Minnesota as a whole. It’s a tourist destination with it’s picturesque views of Lake Superior. But it is also home to many who call northern Minnesota home.

Unique Features of St. Louis County

The city of Duluth is not the only thing that is unique. St. Louis County is a county unlike any other in the United States. Its 6,860 square miles is the largest county in the entire nation by area. The county is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. It goes all the way from Duluth up to the Canadian border. With a county that stretches so far, you get a large diversity of people. Planning for this diversity is a part of any case that may be going to a jury trial.

Look for a criminal defense attorney who has had success in St. Louis County

You gain an advantage if you hire a lawyer who has already had success in the county you are charged in. Peter Lindstrom, the founder of Subzero Criminal Defense, has gotten a felony case dismissed in St. Louis County. The client was facing very serious charges. But I worked closely with the client developing defense strategies. The prosecutor ended up dismissing the case even before the case went to trial. Every case is different, and success in anther case is not a guarantee that your case will be dismissed. But as you are looking for a lawyer, finding one who has successfully worked with a prosecutor and a judge in the county already has inroads for success in the future.

Proceed with caution over thinking an attorney who offices near the courthouse is the best to defend you

When hiring an attorney it may be tempting to want to hire the attorney who offices closes to the courthouse or who practices the most in that particular courthouse. They have the most experience in that courthouse, so they must be the best choice, right? The problem is that attorneys who work almost exclusively in one county can become overly familiar with prosecutors and judges. If your case involves evidence that should be challenged, an attorney who practices there too frequently may be overly concerned about not ruffling feathers. Not wanting to upset the apple cart may become more important to them than fiercely advocating your case. Hiring a skilled criminal defense attorney who has experience across the state may be a better option because they are used to going into courthouses across the state and challenging the State’s evidence. And do not feel beholden to pacify prosecutors and judges because their duty as a criminal defense attorney brings them to challenge the State’s evidence in cases across the state.

Conclusion

If you are charged with a crime in Duluth or in St. Louis County, you want a skilled criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable and will advocate on your behalf. Balancing getting an attorney with experience in that courtroom with having an attorney that has success challenging cases in multiple locations are things to keep in mind. Contact Subzero Criminal Defense for a free consultation. 651-248-5142