I Was a Prosecutor. Here’s What That Means for My Clients.
By James L. Spies | AggressiveCriminalLaw.com
Before I became a criminal defense attorney, I was a prosecutor. That experience shapes everything I do in the courtroom today.
Most clients are surprised to learn I spent years trying cases for the State. They assume defense attorneys and prosecutors are wired completely differently. In some ways, that is true. But in my case, the transition was deliberate and powerful.
Knowing Both Sides of the Courtroom
As a prosecutor I learned how the State builds a case. I saw how law enforcement officers investigate, how charges are filed, how evidence is introduced, and how prosecutors think during trial.
That means I do not just react to what the State is doing. I anticipate it. I can spot weaknesses before they become obvious. I know how to challenge assumptions, expose overreach, and keep the prosecution honest.
What It Means for You
It means I can assess your case with precision. I can tell when the State has a strong hand, and when they are bluffing. I know how prosecutors think about plea offers, and I know what makes them nervous when a case is heading to trial.
Sometimes, that insight helps me negotiate the best possible deal. Other times, it helps me know exactly when to say, “Let’s go to trial.”
Trial Is Not Just About Facts. It Is About Strategy
Prosecutors do not just walk into court and dump evidence in front of a jury. They build a narrative. They tell a story. And if that story goes unchallenged, the jury often believes it.
I understand how those stories are built because I used to build them myself. Now, I use that knowledge to tear them down. I show juries where the gaps are. Where the bias is. Where the truth has been twisted.
The Advantage of Experience
Being a former prosecutor does not make me soft. It makes me sharper. I have tried hundreds of cases. I know what it takes to win, what mistakes to avoid, and how to protect my clients from being steamrolled by a system that does not always play fair.
If you are facing charges, whether state or federal, you want someone who has been in both trenches. Someone who knows how the other side thinks and who is not afraid to push back.
That is what I do. That is what I have always done.
