Legal Question in Criminal Law in Georgia

Re: client protection

Rights are meaningless if they are not protected at all stages of the proceeding. If the facts are as you have outlined, your attorney has done nothing to prepare and your rights will not be protected if you go to trial with him.

You may have the right to complain about ineffective assistance of counsel after you are convicted, but that is like closing the barn door after the horse has gotten away.

My advice is to insist that your attorney speak with you and explain what he has done, the strategy he plans for your trial, and what assitance he needs from you in order to be ready. If his answer is not totally satisfactory, I believe you should try to get another attorney to appear and attempt to gain a continuance in order that he or she have time to prepare a defense for your case.

You may, however, find that your attorney is very well prepared and ready to try the case. If not, I would be happy to speak with you about this matter.

Jim Hough

770-607-5300