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Federal Witness Representation Attorneys

Protecting the rights of witnesses throughout the federal criminal process

Though, as a witness, you are not necessarily under suspicion in federal criminal proceedings, it is highly important that you have qualified legal representation throughout every stage of a federal criminal case, from investigation to trial.

Our team of Connecticut defense attorneys understand the importance of proficient witness representation, so please call Koffsky & Felsen, LLC at 203-327-1500 as soon as possible for assistance.

Witnesses deserve legal protection in many stages of a case

Federal investigations

If federal authorities want to ask you questions relating to a criminal investigation, your first call should be to an experienced witness representation lawyer. Even if you believe you have done nothing wrong, it is all too easy to say something in an investigative interview that can be misinterpreted and directs suspicion in your direction. It can be a stressful experience and even the most well-meaning witnesses can make mistakes, so it is important to have an attorney representing you during all investigative communications.

Furthermore, it is important to cooperate with investigative requests. If you fail to do so, you risk facing your own investigation for obstruction of justice or obstruction of a criminal investigation. Refusing to cooperate may also create inferences of your guilt to be used at a criminal trial. Once you say or do something, it can be used against you and rarely can be undone. If you receive a request to answer any questions, discuss your rights and risks with an attorney immediately.

Subpoenas

When you receive a subpoena to testify at a legal proceeding or provide documents as evidence, you should discuss how to respond with a witness representation lawyer. You should cooperate with a subpoena request and may want to from the outset. The prosecutor, however, may seek confidential, privileged or possibly self-incriminating information. An attorney can help you protect against providing information in a manner that could have adverse affects on you or your business. However, a subpoena is a court order and failure to properly respond or appear in court can have legal consequences. An attorney can advise you of the best way to respond in your particular situation.

Grand jury and trial

If you are subpoenaed to testify as a witness at a federal grand jury, you may understandably have many concerns about appearing in front of the prosecutor and grand jury members and offering information related to an alleged criminal offense. Witnesses in grand juries have legal rights, however, and it is important to discuss these rights with an experienced witness representation attorney. While your attorney cannot be in the grand jury room with you, you have the right to go outside the room to confer with legal counsel at any time during your testimony. It is important to have a qualified lawyer waiting outside the room to advise you of your rights regarding the questions asked.

As a grand jury witness, you also have protections against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment. However, in exchange for giving up this right and providing certain information, a federal prosecutor may offer you a type of immunity. Immunity does not necessarily protect you against future prosecution, so you should always discuss your options with an attorney prior to agreeing to testify in exchange for immunity.

Similarly, witnesses should be represented by an attorney when they are testifying at a federal criminal trial. Unlike a grand jury, a trial is generally not a closed proceeding and your attorney can be present to advise you regarding your Fifth Amendment rights and provide other important counsel that may be necessary to protect your rights and interests.

Contact an experienced Connecticut witness representation lawyer for assistance

Our attorneys devote their practice to vigorously defending the rights of people accused of criminal offenses including federal witness representation. We take a rigorous 360-degree approach to defending the rights of individuals facing Connecticut criminal charges. To schedule a consultation, call Koffsky & Felsen, LLC in Connecticut today at 203-327-1500.