H. Michael Steinberg has 42+ years of experience practicing Colorado criminal law. Mr. Steinberg strives to stay current with the ever changing aspects of criminal law issues and updates resulting in his extensive knowledge of successful criminal defense as well as appellate work. He is also an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, the Colorado Trial Lawyer's Association, and the Colorado and Arapahoe Bar Associations.
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Changing Your Mind? - Trying To Withdraw From A Plea Bargain Before You Have Been Sentenced in ColoradoBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

Introduction

Attempting to withdraw a plea of guilty before the sentencing stage is a complex area of Colorado law. This article addresses that complexity and outlines some of the key issues that make the road to that withdrawal from the plea and subsequent restoration of a defendant’s trial rights, very difficult, if not impossible.

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Understanding the Power of a Colorado District Attorney To Bring Charges and to Prosecute a CaseBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

The Power To Prosecute

Colorado’s District Attorneys are elected officials who run for office every four years. Once elected, the District Attorney has almost limitless power to bring criminal charges or not, to plea bargain charges already filed or not, or to dismiss charges that have already been filed.

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Can You Refuse To Testify In A Colorado Criminal TrialBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

Introduction – The Role Of Witnesses

The role of witness testimony is the bedrock of every criminal trial. If witnesses had the right to refuse to come to court and to testify the criminal justice system would surely collapse.

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Crossing The Line - DA Cannot Instruct Witnesses To Refuse To Talk To The DefenseBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

This is important as the result of a violation of this rule could influence the result of your Colorado criminal case.

Prosecutors and Defense Lawyers in Colorado criminal cases are legally prohibited from any attempt to barred influence ANY witness or possible witness or source of information, from cooperating with or speaking to the other side to the case.

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By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer for Domestic Violence Cases.

As A result of some 42 plus years of both prosecuting and defending Colorado domestic violence cases – I am more convinced than ever – that they are unfair and inequitable.

Most unfair of these laws is the loss of the right to bear arms under the Lautenberg and Brady Bills, As a result of sometimes minor if not ridiculous domestic violence arrests – if the matter is not completely dismissed and in some cases – expunged – police and military officers lose their careers.

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prose 1.jpgBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

While it may not make good common sense to flip off a police officer or use profanity when he or she is deciding whether to cite you with a traffic offense or to arrest you for a crime that is – well “arrestable” or not depending on the officer’s discretion — it is clear in Colorado that the US and Colorado versions of the First Amendment’s protection for free speech are alive and well.

Two recent Colorado cases have resulted in dismissals and large monetary awards after police officers made arrests in response to being fliped off or being sworn at by Colorado citizens.

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By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

The Right Of A Colorado Judge To Impose Alcohol – Drug Abstention And Monitoring In Second And Subsequent DUI Cases

Colorado Law actually, without a conviction and in the face of the presumption of innocence, forces a judge – as a matter of the judge’s pretrial authority – to order – as a condition of release on bond – that the individual accused of a second or subsequent Colorado Alcohol or Drug-related driving offense such as DWAI, DUI or DUID,

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By H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer for Juvenile Crimes

In the Colorado juvenile case of F.M. v. The People of the State of Colorado, the COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS upheld a Colorado Adams County District Court Judge’s decision to deny F.M.’s Petition to Seal DESPITE A NOT GUILTY VERDICT


These are the Undisputed Facts in the Case

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Failing to Appear In Colorado Criminal CourtsBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

Does Failing To Appear For Court Really Have Serious Consequences In Colorado?

Failing to appear in the Colorado criminal court system IS serious. Unlike missing an appointment with a doctor, lawyer, or dentist, there are serious consequences. This article addresses the nature of failure to appear incidents and what to do if you miss your court date.

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Understanding Colorado Juvenile Criminal Cases - First Know Your Client -Then Know The LawBy H. Michael Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer

H. Michael Steinberg has had extensive experience representing juveniles who have been charged having committed criminal acts. That experience spans the least serious traffic matters and minor misdemeanors to the most serious kinds of felony crimes.

“I have two “kids,” a son and a daughter. Both have become lawyers in the last two years (2018 -2019). One of my kids is a District Attorney, the other a criminal defense lawyer (go figure).

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