The Next Fight- Plea Bargains

Don West, National Trial Counsel for CCW Safe, continues The Next Fight, talking about plea bargaining. For most uninformed people, plea bargaining is a dirty word. Without plea bargains the system would collapse under its own weight. Very few cases wind up in trial. Often a plea bargain is a fair result based on what is learned in discovery, problems with evidence, witness issues, difficult legals issues, backgrounds of those involved, and of course, weighing the risk of going to trial. As a criminal defense lawyer, I have helped many clients navigate the system, and for many of them a good plea bargain was the best outcome reasonably possible, and saved them many years in prison. The trick for the client is being able to know when it is a good deal, or if your attorney is anxious to plea you out to get the case over. That is why it is so important to hire a lawyer that has experience in self defense cases, and one that you trust.

Don West, National Trial Counsel for CCW Safe, continues The Next Fight, talking about plea bargaining.  For most uninformed people, plea bargaining is a dirty word.  Without plea bargains the system would collapse under its own weight.  Very few cases wind up in trial.  Often a plea bargain is a fair result based on what is learned in discovery, problems with evidence, witness issues, difficult legals issues, backgrounds of those involved, and of course, weighing the risk of going to trial.  As a criminal defense lawyer, I have helped many clients navigate the system, and for many of them a good plea bargain was the best outcome reasonably possible, and saved them many years in prison.  The trick for the client is being able to know when it is a good deal, or if your attorney is anxious to plea you out to get the case over.  That is why it is so important to hire a lawyer that has experience in self defense cases, and one that you trust.

Don served as co-counsel in the highly publicized George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case and has extensive experience defending serious felony cases and has successfully tried several self-defense cases involving the use of a firearm in defending against an unlawful attack.  After Mr. Zimmerman’s acquittal, Mr. West continued to represent Mr. Zimmerman in the federal civil rights investigation until in 2015 the Department of Justice announced that no charges would be filed.

He holds the prestigious AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell, a 10.0 rating by Avvo, has been awarded Superlawyer status by Thomson Reuters, Top 100 by National Trial Lawyers, is recognized by Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine, Orlando’s Top Lawyers and has been board certified as a criminal trial specialist by the Florida Bar since 1987.    In addition, he has held director positions with the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Mr. West has presented around the country to legal organizations, law students and legal professionals on various aspects of the Zimmerman trial, including self defense law, forensic evidence in firearm cases and stand your ground issues. He has appeared on all the major media outlets in connection with the Zimmerman case or other high profile cases he’s handled.

Welcome to The Next Fight!