If you have decided to pursue a case and have any questions regarding the process for sexual abuse trials in Pasadena, do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced injury lawyer to help guide you through all the necessary procedures. An attorney can help protect your privacy throughout the recording process by entering a pseudonym into the court system, and limit communication between you and the party at fault as much as possible. Read on to learn more about sexual abuse trials in Pasadena, as well as the ways a professional lawyer could offer you their assistance today.
What Are the Different Steps of a Sexual Abuse Trial?
In the initial stages of the Pasadena sexual abuse trial process, pretrial motions have to be decided on involving what evidence will be shown to the jury. The procedure of picking a jury will also take place where the judge and lawyers will question potential jury members to determine any inherent biases or causes to dismiss a juror. After finding a panel of jury members who can fairly judge the case, the lawyers will make opening statements in front of the jury to introduce them to the case.
The plaintiff gives their account of the events and is then followed by the defendant’s side. Witnesses may also be called to talk about certain documents, and the plaintiff may question them. The defendant may then cross-examine that witness, and once all witnesses and third-party professionals are finished presenting their evidence, the defendant may question their witnesses. In the same way, the plaintiff may cross-examine those witnesses and the defendant may make rebuttal questions to those statements as well. The closing statements will reiterate what the jury heard and will include the arguments of each lawyer for why each jury members should or should not side with the plaintiff. After deliberation between the jury members, a decision is made from their office before coming up with a ruling.
Selecting A Jury
A sexual abuse trial can be either a jury trial or a bench trial. Overwhelmingly, it is a better idea to have the trial be a jury trial. Juries are generally better at understanding the injury and the scope of the damage that can occur for someone who has been sexually abused. Everyone receives a jury summons at some point once they are an adult. During the jury selection process, those who have received a jury summons will be required to go to a room where the judges and the lawyers of the plaintiff and the defense are.
In general, they will hear short statements from all parties explaining what the case is about, and will be asked questions regarding those topics. Sometimes only the judge will ask questions, but usually, the lawyers for both sides are allowed to ask inquiries to understand who the jurors are. If there are any reasons that particular potential jurors should not be on the jury panel, either of the lawyers can ask the court to dismiss that particular individual until there are enough people in the jury pool to have a trial. Reach out to a distinguished injury lawyer to learn more.
Typical Trial Length
The length of sexual abuse trials in Pasadena will depend on one’s circumstances and facts surrounding their case. While some can be as short as a few days, others could stretch on for weeks and longer depending on how many defendants there are, what kind of evidence is available, and which third-party professionals are needed for an external opinion. Another factor to take into account includes the court’s management of the cases as well.
A case could potentially last longer if there is a lot of evidence to pour through, many witnesses to speak with, or a large number of professionals needed to give some type of evaluation. If the judge decides to hold trials only a few days a week, this can also extend the length of sexual abuse trials in Pasadena.
Cases with Multiple Plaintiffs and Defendants
If there are multiple plaintiffs involved, this can extend the length of the trial but not as much as if there are multiple defendants. In either case, it can increase the complexity of the case and can increase the amount of time for trials, but when there are multiple plaintiffs, it also makes the case stronger for all the plaintiffs because that increases their credibility as well as the jury’s likelihood to believe them. If there are multiple defendants, it can mean that there are many different parties to receive damages from at the end of the day to compensate the plaintiff for their injuries, but it can also complicate the trial and potentially lead to more confusion for the jury.
Elements an Attorney Watches for in a Trial
Knowledgeable litigators keep an eye towards the entire case all throughout a trial’s duration. They have to consider what they will do if they lose, so they keep track of any errors that occur that they could potentially raise to the court of appeals. They have to make sure that their record is complete so that these errors can be understood by the court of appeals. They have to keep themselves organized so that the evidence that is necessary to prove their case is all introduced to the jury, and they must also be vigilant during the entire trial to make sure that the other side is acting fairly and in good faith.
Working with an Experienced Injury Attorney
During sexual abuse trials in Pasadena, a compassionate lawyer will make every effort to listen to the plaintiff, be sensitive to their injuries, and protect their privacy as much as possible. It can be extremely stressful and traumatic to bring painful events back up, and a professional attorney will work to ensure that you feel safe and protected. A weathered lawyer will seek to embolden you to stand up for yourself and seek recovery for your injuries in order to help prevent others from becoming the subject of abuse in the future. If you are interested in pursuing sexual abuse trials in Pasadena, reach out to a dedicated lawyer today for your initial consultation.