subject: Federal Criminal Cases And State Criminal Cases - Are They Different? [print this page] For people who are not used to legal charges and proceedings, defending themselves can be a difficult task. According to most US citizens, residing in major cities like Baltimore and Rosedale, who have been through criminal charges, the best thing to do in such situations is to hire an experienced criminal law attorney. You have to tell him in details about what has happened that led to the accusations and then let the legal advisor take up the case for you.
Compared to state cases, federal cases are dealt with utmost care and seriousness. Any legal case in the federal level, from a misdemeanor to a lawsuit must be handled by experienced lawyers. The government never prefers to lose a case, so it clearly means that the road ahead of you is going to be tough and there is no room for even a small mistake from your part.
State courts are primarily driven by past decisions that were made within that state. When compared to the cases handled in federal courts, cases at the state level do not require much diligence and preparation. However, courts at the federal level are governed by the constitutional law. This may include crimes which are termed as "white collar" and also those which are committed against any government agencies like the Department of Education. In addition to that, federal grand juries are the ones that decide the outcome of a case in a federal law court. These juries sit for a month as compared to juries of state level courts who have to sit for a week.
Any criminal law attorney, residing in US cities like Baltimore and Elkridge would suggest that if you are accused for a federal level case then it is usually recommended to prepare for it in a different manner. The government would have a strong case against you, since they spend months and sometimes even longer to gather the evidence against you. Since the decision will be governed mainly by the constitution, there is very little room for variance.