Should You Testify in Your Defense? Here’s What to Consider (Pt. 1)

When facing serious criminal charges, you as the defendant have various rights, including the right to a trial and the right to testify in your defense. While many criminal cases are resolved prior to a trial, if a trial does end up taking place, deciding whether you will take the stand to testify in your own defense will be a significant decision that you shouldn’t take lightly.

In this blog series, we will highlight some important questions to ask yourself as you consider whether or not it is best for you to testify in your defense. While these are some general considerations that can be helpful in making this decision, don’t hesitate to contact the trusted Colorado Springs criminal defense attorneys at Kohn Law Firm when you are ready for some professional advice regarding your best options for favorably resolving your criminal case.

To Testify in Your Defense (or Not): Questions to Ask Yourself…

1. Will I have time to prepare with my defense attorney?

This is a critical question to ask yourself – and to realistically answer – if you are considering whether to testify in your defense in an upcoming (or ongoing) trial. The fact of the matter is that testifying in your defense:

• Is very different than just explaining your side of the story to someone
• Can greatly impact the outcome of your case, particularly if you are not properly prepared for this.

In fact, what people may not realize is that the jury in criminal trials will not only be listening to what you the defendant says on the stand, but that this group will also likely be closely paying attention to how you explain your side of the story and how you present yourself during your testimony. What this can end up meaning for you is that being conscious of things like your body language and the way you phrase your statements will be vital.

While an experienced criminal defense lawyer can assist you in understanding how to present yourself to a jury, if you won’t have time to work closely with your attorney to prepare to testify in your defense, you may want to rethink taking the stand (as it may end up hurting your defense, rather than helping it).

We will resume this discussion in an upcoming second part of this blog series, so be sure to look for it!

Colorado Springs Criminal Defense Lawyers at Kohn Law Firm

Have you or a loved one been charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime? If so, the Colorado Springs criminal defense attorneys at The Kohn Law Firm are ready to aggressively defend your rights and help you bring your case to a successful resolution.

To learn more about how we can help you, set up a free initial consultation with us by calling us at (719) 328-9555 or by emailing us using the contact form at the top of this page.

From our offices in Colorado Springs, we represent clients throughout the Pikes Peak region and Colorado.