Suppose you or a loved one is being charged with a federal crime. In that case, this question has got to be first and foremost on your mind because you probably never had to select an attorney before, let alone a federal criminal defense attorney.

Federal and State are two different beasts.  I do both, but you want an attorney who knows federal because state attorneys will not be very successful in federal unless they have experience.

With a robust experience of approximately 30 years in federal criminal cases,  I've traversed the nation, leveraging the uniformity of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This extensive experience is a testament to my competence and can provide you with a sense of reassurance and confidence in my abilities. 

Unlike the varying laws and rules across different states, the federal system maintains consistency in its laws, rules, and Sentencing Guidelines. This familiarity with the federal system can instill a sense of security and trust in your legal representation.

My main office is based in the central district of California, specifically in Los Angeles.  So, if you or a loved one is trying to figure out who the best attorney is for you, I think you want to ensure that whatever attorney you're looking at has the credentials. 

Experience is a crucial factor. You need an attorney who has a proven track record in federal cases, like me, who's been doing it for 30 years, has success with cases, and knows how to deal with cases. So, that's the benchmark criteria you should be looking for.

Comfort Level

Next, you have to talk to the person and see if you feel comfortable with them. This comfort level is not just a personal preference, but a crucial factor that can influence the success of your case.

Because your comfort is paramount in the attorney-client relationship, it's crucial to ensure that you feel at ease with your attorney. This understanding and value for your comfort can significantly impact the success of your case. 

If you feel comfortable with somebody, the Judge will probably feel comfortable with that person. 

The prosecutors will feel comfortable with them, and if they have the criteria necessary to be a good criminal defense attorney, you'll probably get the best result, which is what you're looking for if you're charged with a federal crime. 

Experience with the Crime You Are Facing

Also, it's a good idea to hire somebody familiar with the subject matter you face. For example, I handle many drug and weapons cases. This familiarity can make a significant difference in how your case is handled. 

So, if you're charged with some drug offense, I've handled those for 30 years now with great success, so that certainly would make sense for you or anyone looking for an attorney your lawyer understands how to deal with a particular case.

The feds are in a little world regarding what type of cases they prosecute.  They don't have the manpower the states do, so they will only prosecute certain crimes.

In other words, for someone who gets busted with drugs, if that person has a massive amount of drugs and the feds are part of the investigation, then it certainly makes sense that the feds would prosecute that. 

On the other hand, if the person is busted with a small number of drugs, it makes more sense that the case would be passed on to the state or local authorities to deal with it.

Hopefully, I've given you a little insight into how to choose your attorney. First, you've got to look at the crime. Then, you've got to feel comfortable with the person, and you have to look at their background and see if they've had some success in the area where your case is pending.

As I said, I travel all over the nation because the Federal Sentencing Guidelines are the same nationwide and also because, depending on the case type, there are 5k departures in sentencing.

A lot of the same issues come up in these cases. So you want somebody familiar with how to deal with them and how to successfully maneuver a federal case – whether that be in a jury trial to fight the case or whether that be a circumstance where we're trying to negotiate, work out a resolution, and get you the best possible result.

If you need the best, you've come to the right place.  Pick up the phone now.  Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding.  I stand at the ready to help you. The Hedding Law Firm is located in Los Angeles, CA.