The importance of hiring a criminal defense attorney who is thoroughly familiar with the local court system cannot be stressed enough. 

In retaining counsel for a petty theft, DUI, hit and run, assault and battery, domestic violence, drug charge, probation violation or any other criminal offense, his or her knowledge of the local court system is vital.  There is an old criminal law expression: “Not only is every courthouse different, but every courtroom in every courthouse is different everyday!”  Although this may be a little extreme, there is more than a grain of truth in it.

On any given day, courtrooms are closed, judges are moved and cases are transferred.  Without up-to-date knowledge of the judges as well as the assigned prosecutors, a criminal defense attorney cannot expect to know the actual exposure his client may face. 

In order to determine the best course of action for a criminal defendant, the criminal attorney must know how each particular court in each courthouse may treat alternate sentencing, treatment programs and the like.