Being accused of a crime is a serious matter that can turn your life upside down in an instant. You might be feeling overwhelmed, unsure of your next move, and worried about what the future holds. These feelings are completely valid—criminal charges are often complex, high-stakes, and may come with harsh consequences. In cases where police informant testimony is a key factor, the situation can become even more challenging. The reliability and credibility of informant witnesses can be questioned, and [...]
The Seventh Amendment of the Constitution provides one main function in criminal law. That function is that a defendant is entitled to a jury of sufficient size when being tried for a criminal offense. In Colorado, a person is entitled to a jury of twelve if he or she is facing a felony prosecution. In a felony prosecution, a person faces a minimum of one year in jail or prison. If a person is facing a misdemeanor prosecution, he or she is entitled to a jury of six under Colorado law. A misdemeanor conviction carries with it, in most cases, a maximum of twelve months in jail. If a person is facing an offense for which jail is not possible, he or she is not entitled to a jury trial at all. Therefore, under the Seventh Amendment and Colorado law, the more serious an offense an individual is charged with, the larger the jury he or she is entitled to.
If you are facing criminal prosecution in the state of Colorado, contact skilled Denver criminal defense attorney Jacob E. Martinez today to discuss your case.