CRIMINAL LAW

California law gives the District Attorney of Siskiyou County the legal right to file criminal charges against you in Siskiyou County and potentially put you in jail or prison. The DA reviews investigative reports submitted from Yreka Police, Week Police, Mt. Shasta Police, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department, Etna Police, the California Fish and Game Department, the Franchise Tax Board, CalFire and many more state, local and federal agencies. Not only can you run afoul of the law for criminal offenses ranging from driving under the influence to murder, but criminal charges can be filed for violating building codes, air quality requirements and other administrative regulations.

 

When you need a lawyer, do you rely on a friend’s recommendation? Do you research on the internet? Do you go to your brother-in-law? The answer is often a combination of all three. Talk to friends, do research and spend some time with lawyers you know. People who care about you will tell you three simple facts will light your path to making a good choice.

 

First, find someone who’s done this before. The law today is a complicated business so you want to find a lawyer who works in the field of law you need advice in. You don’t go to a property rights lawyer to get information about drunk driving. Your DUI lawyer should have extensive experience practicing criminal law and have handled a significant number of driving under the influence cases.

 

Second, your lawyer should have been in the business a long time. What many non-lawyers don’t realize is that all California lawyers are assigned a bar number upon passing the bar exam. These numbers are assigned as new attorneys become eligible to practice and the numbers are never reused. This means that the longer someone has been practicing the lower their bar number. This provides an easy way to compare the experience level of two or more attorneys.

 

Lastly, you want someone to listen to you, empathize with your specific situation and then fix the problem. At the end of the day, fixing the problem may mean bringing a Constitutional challenge to your traffic stop, defeating any license suspension or moving to have the case dismissed for lack of evidence. Your lawyer should put all defenses on the table and explain to you the details of the case at every step.

 

You or a loved one is not the first person to have been accused of a DUI or other crime. It is not something to be ashamed of but it is a challenge you must meet. Do it with an experienced advocate on your side.

 

The lawyers at Bergstrom and Bruce have more than seventy years’ experience practicing law in the area of criminal defense. We have successfully handled more than 10,000 cases and counting. Let us help you fight for your Constitutional rights.