Federal Criminal Defense in All South Carolina District Courts & Federal District Courts Throughout the United States**

Providing Zealous Defense in the Federal Courts of South Carolina

**Mr. Bruce is also available to represent clients in other U.S. District Courts throughout the United States by pro hac vice admission and/or association of local counsel admitted to practice in the particular federal district court in which the case is pending. 

Some Information About the Federal Criminal Court System

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure govern criminal cases in the U.S. district courts, along with certain Local Rules. The United States Code is the primary set of statutes that govern the crimes and criminal cases in federal court.  

Criminal cases are prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice, for the district in which the alleged crime or part of the crime occurred. 

Indictment – Most criminal cases begin with an indictment alleging what the defendant did, usually in separate parts called counts. Each count is a separate criminal offense alleged to have been committed by the defendant or defendants named in that particular count.

Initial Hearing/Arraignment – This is the first court appearance for a charged defendant. Here the defendant is formally made aware of his or her charges and a plea of not guilty is typically entered as a matter of course. It is at this time that the court considers bail for the defendant. 

Discovery/Plea Negotiations – The Government provides the discovery material to the defense attorney and both the prosecutor, and the defense attorney discuss possible resolutions for the case. Issues can also be addressed. There can also be various pre-trial motions. 

Speedy Trial Act – Federal criminal cases must comply with the Speedy Trial Act. The timeline for trial is very short, i.e. 70 days from indictment. However, some continuances are typically granted. A defendant can’t waive his rights under the Speedy Trial Act without the Court’s approval. If the trial judge finds that the "ends of justice" are served by a continuance, the Government and Defendant can ask for such a continuance. 

Plea/Trial and Sentencing – Once a defendant has entered a plea or been convicted, the U.S. Probation Department will conduct a background investigation of the defendant and the charges and calculate the sentencing guidelines applicable to this case. This is put into the presentence investigation report which the judge utilizes at the sentencing hearing along with other information to determine the person’s sentence.

What are the federal sentencing guidelines?

The United States Sentencing Commission is an agency whose purpose is to establish sentencing policies and guidelines for the federal criminal justice system. The result is the Commission’s federal sentencing guidelines. The guidelines must be approved by Congress. In sentencing, the Court can depart from the guidelines in certain circumstances. It is also important to remember that there is no parole in the federal criminal justice system.

If you believe that you are currently under federal investigation, or you are facing a federal indictment, you are undoubtedly feeling overwhelmed and concerned about the impact this could have on your future. To best protect your rights and ensure the best possible outcome for your circumstances, it is essential to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At Bruce Law Firm in Rock Hill, our attorney is committed to giving each client dedicated and zealous representation protecting the rights of every client he serves while seeking to obtain the best possible outcome. Moreover, Defense Attorney Robert A. Bruce is a former criminal prosecutor, which gives him unique insight on how to best formulate the best defense strategy.  

Reach out to our law office today at 803-336-7189 to schedule a free initial consultation with our attorney to get started on your case.