Grant County Criminal Court

Grant County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Grant County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Grant County.

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.

Grant County Prosecutor

For criminal cases in Grant County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Grant County. The Grant County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.

Grant County Criminal Court

Grant County Criminal Court

The Right to Counsel

The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.

Required Court Appearances in Grant County

Any required court appearances in Grant 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.

Where can I get help for my Grant 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 Grant 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.

Arraignments in Grant County

During an arraignment in Grant County, a defendant appears before the court and the judge reads the charges that have been filed against the accused and also informs the defendant of his/her rights. During the arraignment in Grant County, the defendant can choose to plead one of the following 1) Guilty 2) Not Guilty or 3) No Contest. If the defendant enters a plea of Not Guilty, a date for trial is set. In the event of a Guilty or No Contest Plea in Grant County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.

If guilty, who sentences the defendant?

If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.

Jury Deliberation

In a jury trial in Grant 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.

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.

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.

Can I request a Plea Agreement?

In Grant County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.

Grant County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in Grant County will take place at the Grant County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Grant County Criminal Court Locations.

Grant County Criminal Court Locations

  • Grant County District Court

    Address: 112 East Guthrie Street, Medford, OK 73759
    Phone: 580-395-2828

  • Lamont Municipal Court

    Address: 102 North Main Street, PO Box 414, Lamont, OK 74643
    Phone: 580-388-4360 Fax: 580-388-4359

  • Medford Municipal Court

    Address: 615 North Front Street, Medford, OK 73759
    Phone: 580-395-2823

  • Nash Municipal Court

    Address: 100 West Grand Avenue, PO Box, Nash, OK 73761
    Phone: 580-839-2829

  • Pond Creek Municipal Court

    Address: 102 South 2nd Street, Pond Creek, OK 73766
    Phone: 580-532-4915

  • Wakita Municipal Court

    Address: 112 West Main Street, Wakita, OK 73771
    Phone: 580-594-2200

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