The law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff handles criminal cases throughout New Jersey. Our criminal defense lawyers have many years of experience assisting clients with criminal matters. Gary Grabas and Casey Woodruff are former Prosecutors. Jon M. Bramnick is a New Jersey "Super Lawyer" with over 30 years of experience.
Crimes arising out of Cranford are handled in either Cranford Municipal Court or Union County Superior Court. Indictable offenses are handled in Union County Superior Court. Union County Superior Court is located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth. Non-indictable offenses arising are handled in Cranford Municipal Court, which is located at 8 Springfield Avenue. The Honorable James M. Bell presides over the court.
Navigating a case through the Cranford Municipal Court process can be a complicated task. Before resolution, a case may involve:
1. First Appearance;
2. Plea Negotiations;
3. Trial; and
4. Sentencing.
First Appearance
Criminal offenses and some traffic offenses require a defendant to appear before the court. If an offense requires a court appearance or is being contested, the court will issue a summons containing a court date for the defendant's first appearance. During the first appearance a defendant can enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If the defendant pleads guilty, the Judge will then decide the sentence. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the case will proceed to trial unless a plea agreement is reached.
Plea Negotiations
Before trial, the prosecutor may offer a plea deal to the defendant. A plea deal is an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor to settle the case. Generally, the deal involves the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser offense in order to resolve the case and, thus, avoid trial. Many times criminal defense attorneys are able to obtain favorable plea deals for their clients.
Trial
At the beginning of a trial in municipal court, the prosecutor will call witnesses to testify against the defendant. The defendant will then be given an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. The prosecutor may also offer physical evidence into the record. After all evidence has been presented, the prosecutor will rest the State's case. Thereafter, the defendant can testify on his or her own behalf, call other witnesses to testify, or offer physical evidence into the record. The prosecutor may cross-examine the defendant's witnesses. After both parties have rested, the Judge will determine if the prosecution proved its case against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt and announce a verdict.
Sentencing
Upon a verdict of guilt, the case will then proceed to the sentencing phase. The Judge determines the sentence.
If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Cranford, always consult a New Jersey lawyer. At the law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff, our criminal defense attorneys know how to effectively navigate the client through each phase of the criminal court process. For a free consultation, contact us at (908) 322-7000. We can be reached 24 hours a day.
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