TRIAL EXPERIENCE
Mr. Eaman has tried cases in state courts throughout the State of Michigan and in federal court. He has tried cases that were four months long (acquittal of his client), three months long (acquittal of all clients), six weeks long (acquittal of all clients), and shorter. He has tried cases successfully against the Strike Force (special prosecutors) of the United States Attorney's Office in Detroit, the Criminal Tax Division of the Justice Department from Washington, and other prosecutors specially assigned to prosecute his clients.
In some cases, where there is little to use to defend the charges, Mr. Eaman still has been successful in obtaining acquittal on some of the charges. His experience teaching trial skills to law students and other lawyers has resulted in his trial skills remaining sharp and growing. The teacher always learns as much as the student.
Many of his cases have been high publicity cases, where the press dogs his trail for months and harasses his clients. He has become an expert at coping with media attention, and has lectured other attorneys on problems in high-publicity cases.
Trial work does not
only mean representation of a client before a jury. It is a fact of the
criminal justice system that most cases (usually about 85% of the cases)
result in a negotiated plea of guilty. Because prosecutors know Mr. Eaman
will try any case, and can win a trial, he is able to negotiate favorable
pleas in cases where trial is not an option.
He has successfully negotiated pleas that were satisfactory to his clients
in many cases. He knows the effects of a guilty plea can be long lasting,
and he will attempt to negotiate a plea that may allow you to clear your
record at a later date.
The first goal of
representation in a criminal case is to avoid charges or seek dismissal
of charges, so you can resume your normal life without the stigma of a
criminal conviction. Where avoidance or dismissal of charges is not possible,
the second goal of representation in a criminal case is to avoid a sentence
of incarceration, or to minimize that incarceration. Trial representation
must include effective representation at sentencing, either because of
a negotiated plea of guilty, or because there has been a conviction at
trial. Mr. Eaman has represented clients successfully at sentencing. He
has pioneered the use of a sentencing memorandum, filed with the sentencing
judge to provide extensive background information as to the client and
his or her situation. He is familiar with the sentencing guidelines, both
in state and federal court, which strongly influence the sentence you
may face. He will work with the probation officer who prepares the pre-sentence
investigative report that is sent to the judge, which usually influences
the sentence you receive. He will prepare you for meeting with the probation
officer and for speaking to the court at your sentencing.
SERVICES
Representation at the Investigative Stage
Representation after charges are filed
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