Madison County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Madison County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Madison County.
Prosecutor in Madison County
In Madison County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Madison County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Alabama. For the most part, the prosecutor in Madison County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Madison County Criminal Court
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Madison County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.
Defendant Sentencing
At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
What happens in Madison County at an arraignment?
In Madison County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
Where can I get help for my Madison County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Madison County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
Jury by Trial Right
The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.
Required Court Appearances in Madison County
Any required court appearances in Madison County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.
Madison County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Madison County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Madison County Criminal Court Locations
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Madison County Circuit Court
Address: 100 North Side Sq, Huntsville AL 35801
Phone: 256-532-3380 Fax: 256-532-3768 -
Madison County District Court
Address: 100 North Side Sq, Huntsville AL 35801
Phone: 256-532-3380 Fax: 256-532-3768 -
Gurley Municipal Court
Address: 235 Walker St, PO Box 128, Gurley AL 35748
Phone: 256-776-3313 -
Huntsville Municipal Court
Address: 815 Wheeler Ave, PO Box 2829, Huntsville AL 35804
Phone: 256-427-7800 Fax: 256-427-7829 -
Madison Municipal Court
Address: 100 Hughes Rd, Madison AL 35758
Phone: 256-772-5617 Fax: 256-464-9596 -
New Hope Municipal Court
Address: 5496 Main Dr, PO Box 419, New Hope AL 35760
Phone: 256-723-2616 -
Owens Cross Roads Municipal Court
Address: 2965 Hwy 431 S, PO Box 158, Owens Cross Roads AL 35763
Phone: 256-725-4163 -
Triana Municipal Court
Address: 640 6th St, Madison AL 35756
Phone: 256-772-0151 Fax: 256-464-5099