A CLEAR STRUCTURED OUTLINE: Step-by-step format to present your plea effectively.
SAMPLE WORDING PHRASES: Ready-to-use language to help you convey arguments persuasively.
PRACTICAL TIPS: Key insights to make a strong, impactful plea in court.
Good morning Judge, I am (name) and I am from (firm name).
May I ask your first, have you had a chance to look through the papers?
I stand before you today to speak on behalf of my client, (name of client).
I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some additional
information about (client) that I believe will be relevant to the sentence
you give. (client) is deeply remorseful for her actions. She has accepted
full responsibility for her actions and has pleaded guilty to the charge of
theft. She has expressed her deep regret for her actions and is aware of
the harm that she has caused to the victim and the community.
(client) has been a loyal and dedicated employee of the (workplace) for
the past two years, and her actions were completely out of character. The
theft of the engagement ring was a momentary lapse in judgment. At the
time of the incident, (client) was facing financial difficulties. She had been
struggling to make ends meet and was behind on her rent and bills. She
made a foolish decision to take the ring in a moment of weakness and
desperation, but she deeply regrets her actions. Since the incident,
(client) has taken full responsibility for her actions. She has cooperated
fully with the police and has expressed sincere remorse for the distress
and inconvenience she has caused to (victim).
I understand that (client) has a previous criminal record, and I would
like to address that in my plea in mitigation. (client) has been convicted of
theft and handling stolen goods in the past.
I would like to draw the court's attention to (client)’s efforts to turn her life
around since her last conviction. She has completed a number of
rehabilitation programs and has been working with a counselor to address
the underlying issues that led to her previous criminal behavior. (client)
has also secured steady employment and has been making efforts to
repay her debts.
I understand that the court takes a serious view of repeat offenders, but I
would urge you to consider the progress that (client) has made in turning
her life around. She acknowledges that she made a mistake and is
remorseful for her actions. It's important to recognize that her previous
convictions occurred before she took steps to address the underlying
issues that led to her criminal behavior. Her previous convictions for theft
and handling stolen goods were committed during a time when she was
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