How To Identify The Best Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyers or Atlanta DUI Attorneys

By: Larry Kohn, Criminal Defense Attorney Georgia and Atlanta DUI Lawyer

Few things are more frightening or potentially life-changing than having to face criminal charges in Georgia. Metro Atlanta’s four counties handle thousands of new criminal cases monthly, and those who aren’t using a public defender seek information on a criminal attorney Atlanta GA who is BEYOND the skill level of merely good criminal lawyers in Atlanta.

While years of experience are the starting point for comparison, two more important statistics separate the best lawyers in the United States from the rest of the pack: (1) Total number of cases handled that are SIMILAR TO your criminal charges; and (2) the success rate for the criminal defense attorney Atlanta GA.

The often-devastating consequences of a criminal conviction, and sometimes the mere accusations against a citizen, can be crippling. From costly fines and restitution to potential jail time, the implications of being found guilty must not be taken lightly.

For many clients charged with criminal acts, a felony or misdemeanor conviction would be far-reaching, and must be fought with every tool and resource available. Federal crimes are prosecuted by U.S. attorneys. State of Georgia crimes typically are prosecuted by a city, state or county solicitor-general, or a county district attorney (DA) in that particular jurisdiction. The Attorney General’s office also prosecutes a few major cases, but usually in conjunction with the county’s DA.

Our Award-Winning Three DUI Attorneys in Georgia

Serious criminal matters deserve having access to the best criminal defense Atlanta has to offer. Atlanta DUI attorney William C. Head is likely the best-known practice attorney for DUI charges in the nation. He has helped thousands of Georgia DUI clients avoid DUI convictions since 1976. He originated multiple advanced-level training courses for DUI lawyers, such as for field sobriety testing under NHTSA standards, and breathalyzer instrument training.

His other two Georgia DUI lawyers, Cory E. Yager (ex-police officer) and Larry Kohn, who has been practicing with Bubba Head for over two decades and has 20 years of experience since graduating Georgia State University School of Law. Both are recognized experts on DUI laws in Georgia, and both have obtained reductions in thousands of DUI cases during their respective careers. Every DUI prosecutor in Georgia knows our three driving under the influence specialists from our seminar presentations, legal books on the topic and courtroom handling of complex cases.

Compare Criminal Lawyer Atlanta Credentials, Accomplishments and Legal Industry Awards, Side-By-Side

To maximize the likelihood of having a criminal charge reduced or perhaps even dismissed altogether, it is vital to obtain the assistance of a criminal defense lawyer Atlanta with the highest attorney ratings and legal industry recognition. Our law firm offers a FREE consultation on ALL felony or misdemeanor criminal cases arising in Georgia.

Compare legal advocates at the highly-rated criminal law firms in Atlanta GA for their criminal law excellence as well as for top lawyer ratings for aggressively representing clients. Then, meet with and hire the criminal attorney in Atlanta who is ready and willing to protect the attorney-client relationship, and aggressively assert your legal rights. Your legal advocate must provide the most vigorous defense possible against misdemeanor or felony criminal charges.

Criminal Attorneys in Atlanta Georgia Who Fight Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Offenses

Under Georgia law, the misdemeanor category of crimes has a maximum term of imprisonment of up to one year to serve. Felony offenses are the more serious crimes for which state prison time of more than a year is a part of Georgia laws. Felonies in Georgia can result in incarceration, up to and including life sentences, with a handful of the most egregious crimes (e.g., murder) possibly producing a death sentence.

Clearly, anyone who has been charged with a crime, whether misdemeanor or felony, owes it to themselves and their families to take prompt action to secure the legal services of the most capable and comprehensive criminal defense attorneys available.

Finding a criminal justice attorney who is committed to preserving the rights of an accused citizen and tracking down every avenue of defense is the best way to increase the chances of reduction or dismissal of criminal charges. If exhaustive investigation, pursuing suppression motions, and efforts to negotiate a favorable resolution fail, two paths remain. First, plea bargaining, which includes many options, strategies and techniques. And second, go to trial.

Felony vs Misdemeanor: Classification of Crimes in Georgia

Articulations of criminal offenses and their potential penalties are found under O.C.G.A. Title 16. Given that the criminal code provisions are so expansive and encompass offenses that run the gamut from assault and battery to check forgery, anyone facing allegations of criminal activity needs to enlist the assistance of a legal practitioner with broad-based defense experience as a trial lawyer in Georgia.

Among the most commonly-lodged criminal charges against citizens in the State of Georgia are:

• Alcohol-related offenses such as consumption by minors, and operating vehicles under the influence. DUI defense is a sub-specialty of criminal defense law, and all three of our partners possess cutting-edge training and litigation skills in drunk driving and drugged driving. CAUTION: Unlike most other crimes, a DUI arrest triggers a possible administrative license suspension proceeding for which that citizen facing DUI-DWI must either request a hearing OR opt to install a 12-month ignition interlock device, if eligible for such alternative.
• Traffic-related driving offenses (felony vs misdemeanor) including impaired driving, hit and run, reckless driving, vehicular homicide GA, serious injury by vehicle, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and attempting to elude a police officer.
• Property crimes such as trespassing and arson
• Drug offenses including manufacturing, distribution and simple possession
• Sex crimes encompassing rape, prostitution and obscenity, as found in O.C.G.A. Title 16 Chapter 6 and O.C.G.A. Title 16 Chapter 12
• Crimes against the person including child abuse and assault and battery, as enumerated in O.C.G.A. Title 16 Chapter 5
• White collar crimes including embezzlement, forgery, fraud and bribery, articulated in O.C.G.A. Title 16 Chapter 9

These and other criminal offenses listed in the Georgia Code are all characterized by their distinctive elements, each of which must be fully proven and established by the prosecution for a conviction to be obtained. Our criminal defense lawyers work to attack the State’s arguments at every possible level.

By challenging the reliability of law enforcement evidence gathering techniques and exposing weaknesses in a prosecutor’s offer of proof, our criminal attorneys can achieve a positive outcome for our clients.

Contact an Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney 24-7 For Your Metro Atlanta Or Georgia Criminal Charges (Statewide Coverage). Since our law office always gives prospective clients a FREE lawyer consultation, what do you have to lose? 404-567-5515

The personal implications of a conviction, either misdemeanor vs felony, can be equally devastating, ranging from job loss, irreparable reputation damage, family discord, loss of child custody, and possibly divorce. Being convicted of a crime is something that can cause negative ripple effects in future employment opportunities, travel plans, and car insurance rates for years.

Meet our DUI attorneys Atlanta GA at our North Fulton County office or set up a time for a Facetime™ conference, or other conferencing method. Whether charged with DUI, domestic violence or a serious injury by vehicle case caused by reckless driving or drunken driving, our lawyers can be with you in court to fight your criminal offenses.

When it comes to fighting back against serious criminal charges, no substitute exists for zealous, knowledgeable, and experienced representation. The stakes are simply too high to leave your prospects for winning in the hands of a novice. To learn more about your rights and to discover how an Atlanta criminal lawyer with our law firm can help protect them, contact us today. DIAL our 24-HOUR NUMBER: 404-567-5515. Obtain a FREE lawyer consultation and ask about our attorneys’ fee payment plans for your legal fees.

Get FREE legal advice from former cop and top-rated Atlanta attorney Cory Yager. Larry Kohn has over 435 FIVE–STAR AVVO reviews and has been named to both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. You can also speak with Bubba Head, the Georgia criminal justice lawyer twice voted as the best criminal defense attorney Atlanta for driving under the influence (DUI) by the Best Lawyers in America (2012 and 2017).

Plus, except when a vote of all members was taken in 2003 by the National College for DUI Defense, no other attorney has been voted by his or her peers to be the Best Lawyer in America. He is also author or co-author of over a dozen legal books.

Our Atlanta criminal defense lawyers can explain Miranda rights, the Georgia implied consent law, illegal search and seizure at traffic stops, defenses to your criminal charges, and the likely path that the pending criminal accusation or indictment will take. What do you have to LOSE? The appointment and no-cost, initial attorney consultation with an Atlanta Super Lawyer may help you get a good night’s sleep for the first time since your arrest.

Other Special Information for Those Facing Driving under the Influence in Georgia

A Driver Taken Into Custody for DUI in Georgia Only Has 30 Days to Save His or Her Driver’s License

Since July 1, 2017, new rules call for a person arrested for DUI in GA to EITHER file a DDS appeal within thirty days, to challenge the administrative suspension of your GA driver license (or driving privileges, if licensed elsewhere). A second option exists for MOST Georgia drivers’ license holders, which involves opting for an ignition interlock device “limited driving permit” for twelve full months, if the driver faces possible HARD suspension for a refusal to submit to implied consent testing after arrest (blood test or breath test).

Your DUI Case May Offer Special “Evidence Elimination” Issues under Georgia Implied Consent Law

DUI defense is a challenging, complex area of criminal law. This is because both the federal and state governments have enacted laws that take away certain rights (driving privileges) if an arrested DUI driver fails to submit to post-arrest TESTING under our State’s implied consent law. Part of our defense of accused drivers facing a GA DUI is filing motions and challenging the government’s criminal case against our clients. From the arrest to the reading of the implied consent notice, our criminal attorneys attack the State’s evidence. In a nutshell, these types of aggressive challenges are the KEY to WINNING many driving while intoxicated cases in Georgia.

Special Training in DUI Laws That MOST DUI Lawyers Lack

All three partners are NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Field Sobriety Test Instructors. Mr. Kohn and Mr. Head completed the training in 1999, and Mr. Yager hold an even more special distinction: he MADE over 1000 DUI arrests when working as a law enforcement officer. He also was an “FTO” (field training officer) at the Roswell Police Department, meaning he TAUGHT other police officers how to administer field sobriety tests similar to those performed at the scene of most DWI-DUI traffic stops. If you were arrested after failing or refusing a breath test or blood test, then you will want the help of an Atlanta DUI lawyer

These Are the Main Practice Areas Handled by Our Criminal Lawyers In Atlanta:

• Assault
• Conspiracy
• Domestic Violence (Family Violence)
• DUI Charges
• Expungement
• H1B Visa
• Immigration
• Juvenile Crimes
• Prostitution or Pandering
• Sex Crimes
• Solicitation
• Speeding Tickets
• Student Defense
• Theft Charges, such as embezzlement, theft of services, shoplifting
• Traffic Ticket offenses of all types and at all locations in Georgia

Our Criminal Defense Law Firm Covers These GA Cities and Counties:

• Alpharetta
• Athens
• Atlanta
• Chamblee
• Cherokee County
• Cobb County
• DeKalb County
• Dunwoody
• Forsyth County
• Fulton County
• Gwinnett County
• Henry County
• Johns Creek
• Lawrenceville
• Marietta
• Milton
• Roswell
• Sandy Springs
• Smyrna
• Walton County

REVIEW THE FIRM’S RECENT CASE WINS.