If you are visiting Utah and commit a crime while you are here, it is important to consult a Utah defense lawyer about your charges. Most charges are filed by the State, which means that you must face charges in the state that filed them against you. If you go home or flee Utah before addressing your charges, you could be re-arrested and face other serious complications. For help with your Utah criminal case, contact Salt Lake City defense lawyer Darwin Overson today.
The Utah defense lawyers for out of state visitors at Overson Law offer free consultations to help you with your case. Before leaving Utah or trying to run away from your charges, schedule a free consultation with our attorneys. Contact us online today or call us at (801) 758-2287 to schedule your consultation.
Can I Move My Trial to Another State for a Utah Crime?
If you committed a crime in Utah, you must face those charges in Utah. Utah’s criminal code lists the crimes that Utah police and prosecutors can charge you with, and those crimes must be handled under Utah’s authority. This means facing the charges or going to trial in a Utah Court.
When you are charged with a crime in Utah, the case will be assigned to the appropriate courthouse based on your location. For instance, charges that occur in Salt Lake County will be tried in the justice court or district court in Salt Lake City. Charges elsewhere in Utah should be tried in the appropriate local courthouse for the location of the alleged offense.
Even if you are charged with a federal crime in Utah, you may still have to face the charges in Utah. Federal crimes are charged with the appropriate U.S. district court for the location where the crime took place. In Utah, there is one U.S. District Court for the District of Utah where all federal trials are heard for federal crimes committed in Utah.
Moving a trial somewhere else can occur under various extreme circumstances, but this is very unlikely. One way a trail can be moved is in the unlikely event that the potential jury pool is so tainted in the area that the trial would not be fair. Similar venue transfers may also be allowed in cases where the case would become a “media circus,” and justice demands moving the trial somewhere else.
Regardless of where the trial takes place, a Utah State crime will always be tried under Utah law. Similarly, a federal crime will always be tried under federal law.
Can Your Lawyer Represent You in Another State?
If your case is taking place in Utah under the laws of Utah, you must have an attorney who is authorized to practice law in Utah. Each state has its own bar exam and rules for acceptance to the state bar. If your lawyer is not barred in the state where your trial is taking place, they cannot represent you on your case without special permission.
In some cases, a lawyer can get admitted to the bar of another state without much trouble, but it usually takes some time. Lawyers can be admitted to practice in Utah on a motion for admittance, but they must still wait 6 months – and admissions are only accepted in February, May, August, and October.
Alternatively, your lawyer may be able to step in and represent you on your case with help from local counsel. This admission “for this occasion only” is called “pro hac vice” representation, and is possible under Utah law.
However, the most straightforward option is to use a lawyer from Utah. Practicing criminal lawyers in Utah, like the attorneys at Overson Law, commonly work with and understand Utah criminal law and rules of criminal procedure. For help with your Utah criminal charges, you should consider contacting a local Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney like Darwin Overson.
Types of Cases We Handle
Our Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyers work to fight for our clients’ rights no matter what type of charges they face. Our attorneys handle both severe and minor criminal charges and work to get evidence suppressed, charges dropped, and cases dismissed.
Call us today if you were charged with any of the following crimes:
- Aggravated Assault
- Auto Theft
- Burglary
- Drug Possession
- Drunk Driving
- Gun Possession
- Murder
- Obstruction of Justice
- Possession with the Intent to Deliver
- Rape
- Resisting Arrest
- Robbery
- Simple Assault
- Theft
- White Collar Crimes
These are only some of the crimes we handle. If you were charged with another crime not on this list, contact our attorneys today to discuss your charges.
Salt Lake City Defense Lawyers for Defendants on Vacation in Utah
If you were arrested in Utah while on vacation or visiting from out of state, contact the Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyers at Overson Law today. Our attorneys represent defendants who are Utah residents or others visiting or passing through the State of Utah. To schedule a free, confidential consultation on your charges, contact our law offices online or call us today at (801) 758-2287.
