What do federal lawyers do?
A federal lawyer handles cases in federal court. Of major interest, in San Antonio, most federal lawyers are criminal lawyers. This is because the majority of cases in San Antonio Federal Court are criminal cases. In fact, most of these cases are gun crimes, drug crimes, and alien-smuggling crimes.
Therefore, a federal attorney will have experience handling criminal cases. In particular, these attorneys will help you with bail hearings, plea negotiations, jury trials, sentencing hearings, and appeals.
What types of crimes would most likely be heard in federal court?
Examples of federal crimes include:
- Major drug crimes;
- 922g gun crimes;
- Human-smuggling crimes;
- Mail fraud;
- Wire fraud;
- Money laundering;
- Terrorism charges;
- Assaulting a federal agent; and
- DWIs on a military base.
In sum, federal crimes cover a wide range of charges and sometimes overlap with state charges.
When do you need to hire a federal criminal defense lawyer?
You should hire a federal attorney if any of the following happen to you:
- The FBI, Homeland Security, or ATF want to talk to you about a crime;
- Police arrest you on federal charges;
- You need help getting a bail bond in federal court;
- You want to fight your case; or
- If you want to work out a plea deal.
How can a federal defense attorney help you?
An attorney can help you with a federal case in at least three ways. First, your attorney can protect your Miranda rights. Your lawyer will do this by making sure police do not pressure you into giving up your right to remain silent.
More importantly, your attorney will speak to prosecutors on your behalf. This includes getting the evidence from the feds in your case. And it includes talking to the feds about a plea deal. This puts a layer between you and the feds that will protect you from saying the wrong thing.
Second, your attorney can ask a judge to let you out on bond. This is one of the major differences between state and federal court. In state court, you pay a bondsperson money to get you out of jail.
In contrast, in federal court, you must show that you are not a flight risk or a danger to the community before you can get out on bail. Your attorney can do this at your bail hearing by calling members of your community to testify for you.
Namely, your attorney will help show that you have anchors to your community and that you will follow all the bond rules.
Finally, your lawyer will help you fight your case or work something out. This is where the lawyer’s experience comes into play. An experienced attorney will guide you through this process and help you achieve the best outcome in your case.
San Antonio Federal Criminal Defense Attorney.
Federal criminal cases come as a shock to the person arrested and his or her family. These cases also create fear. The fear of jail time. And the fear of losing your family.
But at the same time, the system also comes with built in protections. Your attorney can use these protections to protect you from unfair charges and long-jail terms.
San Antonio Federal Attorney Genaro R. Cortez. Phone: 210-733-7575.
Genaro R. Cortez is a lawyer with over 20 years experience handling federal cases in San Antonio. During this time, he’s helped hundreds of clients charged with drug, gun, and alien-smuggling crimes in South Texas.
Attorney Genaro Cortez also served as a CJA Panel Attorney from 2008-2021. Notably, as a CJA Panel Attorney, Genaro Cortez secured not guilty verdicts for clients charged with federal crimes.
Attorney Genaro Cortez now runs a private practice focusing on criminal and car accident cases. His service areas include San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Del Rio, Laredo, and El Paso.