Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media
“So, what happens, with a particular county…you’ve got a great deal of experience here in Pierce County…you have this prosecutor that you’ve had a good relationship with…let’s say that…and you’re able to get some plea bargaining. And this one here, is a very difficult one to deal with. Can you ever switch in a case?”
Spencer Freeman – Criminal Defense Attorney – Pierce County, WA
“No. The criminal defendant and the defense attorney have no ability to dictate what prosecutor’s handling the case.”
Ray Hrdlicka – Host – Attorneys.Media
“Is it just luck of the draw whether you get a good relationship or a bad relationship?”
Spencer Freeman – Criminal Defense Attorney – Pierce County, WA
“You can certainly view it as luck of the draw, but when you go back and look at the fact that there’s a head attorney that’s running the office, and that attorney sets the tone and sets the guidelines, generally most prosecutors are going to work within those guidelines. I do know that I’ve got some prosecutors, that if I see is on the other side of the case, I know I’m likely having to end up trying the case. Because we’re never going to be able to have a conversation about mitigation at all. And a lot of time, that happens in cases where gangs are part of the case.”