Criminal Defense Services
Criminal defense starts before your arraignment. Being charged with any crime, including Vermont DUI, can be an intimidating experience. It is difficult to know how to navigate the process on your own. At Burke Law, we guide you through every stage of the criminal process.
From arraignment to disposition, our criminal defense attorneys identify the strengths of your case and zealously advocate on your behalf. If you are charged with a crime it is important to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Even minor convictions can negatively impact your future.
Learn about the different criminal defense services Burke Law offers below.
Discovery is an important part of the criminal defense process in Vermont. After a defendant is arraigned the prosecutor must produce copies of (or provide access to) the specific evidence in the State’s possession that the prosecutor believes can prove the defendant’s guilt of the charged crime. During discovery the Read more…
If you do not agree with the sentence imposed by the judge in a Vermont criminal case you have some options. You can appeal your Vermont criminal conviction or sentence to the Vermont Supreme Court for review. You can move for a reduction of sentence within 90 days pursuant to Read more…
Exculpatory evidence is evidence favorable to the defendant in a criminal trial that exonerates or tends to exonerate the defendant of guilt. It is the opposite of inculpatory evidence, which tends to present guilt. Vermont prosecutors are required to turn over exculpatory evidence as part of the discovery process in criminal Read more…
Yes, criminal court proceedings are audio recorded in Vermont. We do not have a stenographer in the courtroom, but you can obtain a copy of the audio or a order a transcript of the hearing. To obtain a transcript of a hearing in Vermont you can refer to the Vermont Read more…
24 hour curfew is a condition of release in Vermont that requires a defendant to reside and stay at a specific residence 24 hours a day with very limited exceptions. It is often imposed when an individual is facing serious criminal charges. One of the benefits of a 24 hour Read more…
A Vermont criminal defendant may want to transfer his case to a different court. This called a change of venue. Change of venue is controlled by Vermont Rule of Criminal Procedure 21. A change of venue or transfer of case may occur when the court believes that a defendant cannot Read more…
If a criminal defendant wants a new trial there are criteria for eligibility. The criteria are described in Vermont Rule of Criminal Procedure 33. The Rule states: The court on motion of a defendant may grant a new trial to the defendent if required in the interests of justice. If Read more…
Probable cause principles are vital to understanding Vermont criminal defense. To establish probable cause, “police officers must be able to point to objective circumstances leading them to believe that a suspect committed a crime. A police officer can’t establish probable cause by saying only something like, “I just had a Read more…
A violation of conditions of release can have serious consequences in Vermont. A defendant who is caught violating conditions of release may be held in custody until his trial. Criminal defendants in Vermont are often released pending trial on conditions of release. Conditions of release are a set of court Read more…
Bail in Vermont is either a secured or unsecured amount of money that must be paid (or promised to be paid) to allow a criminal defendant to be released from jail while awaiting trial. A bail bond is money or some form of property that is deposited to the court Read more…