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What is the criminal process in Texas like? Well, as a general rule, once a person gets arrested and accused of a crime, then soon after that, there’ll be a case filed with a court. Whatever jurisdiction it is, misdemeanor or felony level. Then, they’ll be given an initial court date.

Usually, at that initial court date, the person is informing the court of whether or not they’ve hired an attorney. And the court may inquire if a person has not, whether or not they may be entitled to a court appointed attorney. Then, depending on the court and the county, there’s probably going to be a series of court dates that progresses from that point on.

Many courts will have a progressive schedule of court dates that may involve a first court date, where the prosecutor and the defense attorney get together and talk about what their positions are. Maybe they are given an opportunity to negotiate and possibly reach a plea bargain.

Then, if they don’t reach a plea bargain, then there may be another court date, where the prosecution is responsible for turning over all the evidence they have at that point. Then there may be a court date where the judge inquires about what the status of the case is?Are the two parties going to reach an agreement? Or do they need to set it for a jury trial? Then, there may be a jury trial date that’s set where the case actually goes to a jury trial.

Now, depending on the county or the jurisdiction, there may be a bunch of jury trial court dates before the case actually gets reached because the court may have so many cases actually pending that it takes a while for those case to actually be reached for trial.

Now, in felonies, there may be another part to the process where after the person is arrested and accused of the crime. There may be a process where the cases are pending before the grand jury. Then, nothing else happens until the grand jury returns an indictment. If they do, then there can be a court date and a series of court dates, where that led up to possibly a trial or a resolution by agreement of that case.

But grand juries can also decide not to indict a case. So, we call the grand jury decision either a true bill or a no bill. So, if they decide to indict, we call that a true bill. If they decide not to indict, that’s a no bill. The grand jury just decides whether or not there’s enough evidence that they think the person ought to stand trial.

Some attorneys will tell you that the grand jury is deciding whether or not there’s probable cause. But the law doesn’t state that the grand jury decides whether or not there’s probable cause. The grand jury just decides whether or not they think there’s enough evidence that the person ought to stand trial. They can also decide that they think there’s not enough evidence. Even regardless of the evidence, they don’t think the person should have to stand trial.

The grand jury can decide not to indict the case. And then, that’s like a dismissal, and the case is over. So, that’s just kind of a general overview of the criminal process in Texas.

Summary 

The criminal process in Texas involves a person being arrested and accused of a crime. It also consists of filing a case with a court and awaiting an initial court date. The court may inquire whether the person has hired an attorney and if they are entitled to a court appointed attorney. The case progresses through court dates, including negotiations, plea bargains, and jury trials. In felonies, cases may be pending before the grand jury, which decides whether to indict or not.

**Over 96 Years Of Combined Criminal Defense And Immigration Law Experience** ** Board Certified in Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1989** **Award Winning Immigration Law Firm** Our law firm in Dallas Texas is driven with one simple goal in mind and that is to deliver the best possible result on every case we represent. We know that for every criminal case that we pursue, there is a human being that is dependent on us for defending his or her rights, freedom, and future well-being. This type of understanding is the foundation of any successful attorney-client relationship. Everyone should be deserving of a lawyer that they feel comfortable working with. You need someone by your side, who knows and understands the sum and substance of the Texas criminal justice system, and who is familiar with the courts, judges, prosecutors, and clerks in the various jurisdictions of the state of Texas. We are committed 110% to be that firm for you! Selection of your criminal defense counsel should be a careful and thorough process. You need and deserve a highly experienced and devoted advocate that you can rely on to protect your rights and your future. Our team of defense lawyers at The Medlin Law Firm will always give you honest answers to your questions and will dedicate the time that is needed in order to properly outline your defense strategy and possible scenarios of resolution. When you hire our firm, we get to work right away on uncovering and investigating every single detail of your case and the charges you are facing. We know what it takes to build a strong defense on your behalf. Our philosophy in handling each and every new criminal case is to prepare for the worst, but expect the best from the get-go; therefore, we look to dismiss every case if possible, but won’t hesitate to escalate to trial if it serves your best interests. We prepare for each criminal case by planning multiple possibilities and courses of action, so that when your case unfolds, we are in an optimal position to choose the best and most beneficial resolution. Working with The Medlin Law firm means you are always informed and involved at every step of the process. In over 34 years of criminal law practice, Gary Medlin has handled criminal matters of every type and has successfully defended thousands of criminal cases in the state of Texas. His experience practicing on both sides of Texas state and federal criminal law cases offers a significant advantage to his clients. Before becoming a criminal defense attorney, Gary Medlin served as assistant district attorney for over 8 years, prosecuting criminal charges against those accused of breaking the law. Today, this experience gives him invaluable insight into how prosecutors prepare cases against the firm’s clients. He knows the prosecution’s priorities as well as their pressure points, and as a result, is much more resourceful and effective in the preparation and defense of his client’s cases. For the past several decades, Gary has been a highly regarded and trusted Texas criminal defense lawyer. He is Board Certified in Criminal Law as designated by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction achieved by only 10% of criminal defense attorneys in the state of Texas. AREAS OF PRACTICE: • Criminal Law • Immigration Law CERTIFICATIONS/SPECIALTIES: • Board Certified in Criminal Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1989 BAR ADMISSIONS: • United States Supreme Court • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas • Texas courts by the Supreme Court of the State of Texas PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS: • Tarrant County Bar Association • Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (Immediate Past President) • DUI Defense Lawyers Association (Founding Member) • Texas DWI Defense Lawyers Association (Founding Member) • State Bar of Texas • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers • National College for DUI Defense EDUCATION: • Texas Tech University, Bachelor of Science 1979 • Texas Tech University School of Law, Juris Doctorate 1982 • State Bar of Texas Licensed: 1983 CRIMINAL CASES WE HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN REPRESENTING AT BOTH THE STATE & FEDERAL LEVELS: • DWI & DUI Offenses • Assault/Battery Charges • Domestic Violence • Murder/Manslaughter • Drug Crimes • Weapons Offenses • Violent Crimes • Theft/Burglary/Shoplifting • Arson • Bribery • White Collar Crimes • Conspiracy • Cyber Crimes • Embezzlement • Forgery • Sexual Offense Crimes • Trespass • Vandalism IMMIGRATION • Visa • Green Card • Citizenship • Deportation Services List • Criminal Defense - All Levels - All Case Types • Individualized DWI Defense & Hearing to Save Your License (ALR) • Extensive Experience in Jury Trails, Obtaining Dismissals, Reductions & More • Motions to Suppress, Occupational License to Cover Periods of Suspension • Obtaining Jury Acquittals at Every Level of Crime Including Capital Murder, Intoxication Manslaughter & DWI (Past Performance is No Guarantee of Future Results) • Immigration - Visa - Green Card - Citizenship - Deportation Amenities • Bonds Free for Clients • Frequent Speaker On DWI, ALR, and Other Criminal Law Matters • Admitted to the United States Supreme Court, U.S. Dist. Ct.-Northern Dist. TX., U.S. Ct. of Appeals-5th Circuit • Member, College of State Bar of Texas, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers • Former Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney The Medlin Law Firm - Dallas 2550 Pacific Ave #866 Dallas, TX 75226 (214) 888-4810 https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/dallas/ - Contact Gary at