Legal Question in Criminal Law in Colorado
Help with concealed weapon charge (knife).
Hi, I have a friend in Colorado that has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon (4in pocket knife in boot) and assault with a deadly weapon (beer bottle). Both charges stem from a skermish in a bar after a man approached my friend and took a swing at him. The knife did not actually come out but he admitted to having it in his boot, due to bar rules, when he was questioned. My friend has terrible representation that has actually told him that when they go to court, he will be convicted so why should she bust her ass for him. So...I have been trying to find relevant cases for him to review. My friend is a good man who has had trouble in the past(he is on probation) but he has come a long way in the past couple of years(good job, college student, stable home). Please let me know of any sites in which I can find information and whether or not he can file some sort of complaint about his representation. Thank you so much for your time in this matter.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Help with concealed weapon charge (knife).
The Colorado Supreme Court handles all complaints about attorneys. They have a web cite that will explain how to file a complaint. Coloradosupremecourt.com. Have him look under attorney regulation.
If the attorney is privately hired, your friend can fire the attorney and hire a different one. If the attorney is appointed by the court, your friend may want to bring it up in front of the Judge that his case is in front of, or, write a letter to the judge voicing his concerns. If the judge feels that it is appropriate, he will appoint different counsel.
Re: Help with concealed weapon charge (knife).
If his lawyer is the problem, why not fire her? You get what you pay for, though(in the event counsel is a free public defender). Also, the probation is something to look at. A guilty verdict or plea would violate that probation, so he may be looking at jail on that. -Dan