Facing a criminal trial in Starkville can feel like your entire life is hanging on a day you do not understand. You may picture a crowded courtroom, a jury staring at you, and lawyers arguing over your future. That fear is real, and it is made worse when you are trying to make sense of legal terms and court dates that no one has clearly explained to you.
Criminal trials in Starkville follow a structure, and once you understand that structure, the process becomes less mysterious and easier to face. There are clear phases, from jury selection through verdict, and each one has a purpose. When you know what happens in each phase, what you may be asked to do, and how your lawyer should be working for you, you can walk into the Oktibbeha County courthouse with more confidence and less panic.
At Vollor Law Firm, P.A., we have spent more than 25 years handling criminal defense cases in Mississippi courtrooms, including Starkville. We have represented thousands of clients through hearings, negotiations, and jury trials. What follows is the same explanation we give our own clients, step by step, so you can see what to expect during a criminal trial in Starkville and how we prepare to protect your rights at every stage.
Charged with a crime in Starkville and unsure what happens next? Contact a Starkville criminal defense attorney to understand the trial process, your rights, and the decisions that can affect your future.
How Criminal Trials Work in Starkville Courts
Most criminal trials connected to Starkville charges take place in Oktibbeha County courts that serve this area. In the courtroom, you usually see the judge on the bench at the front, the prosecutor at a table representing the State of Mississippi, and our defense team at another table beside you. A group of citizens from the local community sit in the jury box, and court staff such as the court reporter and bailiff handle the record and security.
Every criminal trial in Mississippi follows the same basic sequence. The court first brings in a pool of potential jurors for jury selection. Once a jury is chosen and sworn, the lawyers give opening statements. The prosecution then presents its witnesses and evidence, and the defense cross examines them. After that, the defense may present its own witnesses and evidence. When both sides finish, they give closing arguments, the judge instructs the jury on the law, and the jury deliberates and returns a verdict.
Throughout the trial, the burden of proof stays on the prosecution. That means the State must prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. You are not required to prove your innocence, and you are not required to testify. “Beyond a reasonable doubt” is the highest standard in our legal system. It is stronger than the “more likely than not” standard often used in civil cases like injury lawsuits. If jurors have a real, reasonable doubt about any part of the charge, they must find you not guilty.
Our decades of trial work in Starkville and across Mississippi have taught us that no two cases are the same, but the structure of trial is predictable. We use that structure to build a plan. From the first day we are involved, we think ahead to how every piece of evidence, every witness, and every pretrial ruling may play out in front of a Starkville jury.
What Happens Before Your Trial Starts
By the time your trial date arrives, a great deal of work should already have taken place outside the courtroom. Once we take on a criminal case in Starkville, we start by reviewing discovery, which is the evidence and information the prosecution is required to share. This can include police reports, video, lab results, and witness statements. We look for inconsistencies, missing pieces, and legal issues such as whether officers followed proper procedures.
We then decide what pretrial motions to file. For example, we may file motions to suppress evidence that was obtained in violation of your rights, or motions to keep certain unfair or prejudicial information away from the jury. These motions are argued in front of the judge before trial, often at separate hearings. Rulings on these issues can shape the entire case, because they control what the jury will and will not hear once trial starts.
Plea discussions often continue during this time as well. Prosecutors in Starkville may offer to reduce charges or recommend a lighter sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. We carefully review any offer with you, explain the evidence, the strengths and weaknesses of the case, and the realistic risks of trial. The decision to accept or reject a plea is always yours, but you should make it with clear information, not fear or pressure.
We also spend time preparing you and key witnesses for trial. That can mean walking through the courtroom logistics, practicing how to answer questions directly and honestly, and reviewing any prior statements. Our approach is hands on and tailored, because what an out of state college student facing a Starkville charge needs to understand may be different from what a long time resident with prior court experience needs to hear.
Defendants are often surprised by how often dates move before trial. Judges may reset cases for many reasons, including crowded dockets, unavailable witnesses, or pending motions. A continuance does not always mean something is wrong. Our role includes keeping you informed about each change, updating the plan, and making sure the extra time is used to improve your position rather than increase your anxiety.
Jury Selection in Starkville: What Really Happens
On the first day of trial, the judge brings in a group of potential jurors who have been summoned from Starkville and surrounding areas. Jury selection, which lawyers call voir dire, is when both sides question these people to find out whether they can be fair. This is often the first time you see the people who may decide your case, and it can feel intense, but it follows a routine pattern.
The judge usually begins by asking general questions, such as whether anyone knows the lawyers or witnesses, has health problems that would make it hard to serve, or has strong feelings about the type of charge. Then the lawyers get a chance to ask more focused questions. We may ask about past experiences with law enforcement, beliefs about crime and punishment, or whether someone has been the victim of a similar offense. The goal is not to pry into private lives for no reason, but to uncover hidden bias that could hurt your right to a fair trial.
Some jurors are removed “for cause,” which means they have shown they cannot be fair, such as someone who says they will always believe a police officer over anyone else. Both sides also have a limited number of “peremptory challenges,” which allow us to excuse jurors without giving a specific reason, as long as we do not discriminate based on race or sex. Choosing when to use these strikes is a strategic decision that comes from experience with local juries and the facts of your case.
During all of this, you usually sit beside us at counsel table. Jurors see you, and we may quietly discuss impressions with you during breaks. We pay close attention not only to the words potential jurors use, but also to their body language and reactions to parts of your case. Our long presence in Starkville courtrooms helps us recognize patterns in jury pools and make informed decisions. Once the required number of jurors and alternates remain, they are sworn in, and your jury is officially seated.
Opening Statements: How Your Story Is Framed
Once the jury is seated, the trial formally begins with opening statements. The prosecution goes first because it carries the burden of proof. The prosecutor tells the jury what they believe the evidence will show and why they think you are guilty. It is important to remember that this is not evidence. It is a preview of their story.
We then have the choice to give an opening statement immediately or wait until later in the trial, depending on what is best for your case. In many Starkville trials, we choose to give an opening right after the prosecution so the jury hears another side before they see any witnesses. Our opening is our chance to show jurors that there is more than one way to look at the facts and to highlight the reasonable doubts they should be watching for.
In our opening, we walk the jury through the key themes of your defense. That might include pointing out gaps in the investigation, unreliable witnesses, or innocent explanations for what the State will describe. We also work to humanize you. Jurors need to see you as a whole person, not only as a name on a charging document. Our history of achieving reductions, dismissals, and acquittals has taught us that the way a case is framed from the start can influence how jurors understand every witness who follows.
Throughout opening statements, you sit quietly at the defense table. Jurors still notice you, so we talk with clients in advance about how to dress, how to sit, and how to react or avoid reacting to statements you disagree with. You do not have to pretend you are not nervous, but we help you present yourself in a way that supports your defense instead of distracting from it.
Witness Testimony & Evidence: What You Will See and Hear
After openings, the prosecution begins presenting its case in chief. This is when they call witnesses and introduce physical or documentary evidence. On direct examination, the prosecutor asks open ended questions that let a witness tell their version of events. Common witnesses in Starkville criminal trials include police officers, alleged victims, eyewitnesses, and sometimes lab analysts or medical professionals, depending on the charge.
We cross examine each witness after the prosecutor finishes. Cross examination is where we test their story. We may confront an officer with differences between their report and video, question whether a witness could really see what they claim from their location, or explore whether someone has a motive to lie. When we cross examine, our questions are usually more pointed and leading. Years of trial practice have shown us that careful, prepared cross examination can reveal weaknesses and raise the reasonable doubts we highlighted in opening.
Evidence in a criminal trial can take many forms. The State may offer photos, videos, recordings of 911 calls, lab reports, or objects such as weapons or clothing. Each item must be marked as an exhibit and admitted by the judge before the jury can consider it. We can object to evidence we believe is unreliable, irrelevant, or unfairly prejudicial. When you see us stand and say “objection,” we are asking the judge to enforce existing rules about what the jury should and should not hear.
Often, you see short pauses in the action. The judge may call the lawyers to the bench for a sidebar, a quiet discussion outside the jury’s hearing, or may send the jury out of the room to address legal issues. These moments can feel stressful from the defense table because you cannot hear every word. We take time before trial to explain that these interruptions are normal and that part of our job is to have these legal arguments so the jury hears a cleaner, fairer version of the case.
After the State finishes, we decide whether to present a defense case. Sometimes our best strategy is to rest without calling any witnesses, relying on the holes in the prosecution’s case. In other trials, we may call witnesses who support your alibi, explain technical issues, or show you in a fuller light. The law does not require the defense to call any witnesses or present any evidence, and the jury is usually instructed that this choice cannot be held against you.
Should You Testify in Your Own Trial?
One of the biggest questions clients ask is whether they should testify. You have a constitutional right to remain silent that continues all the way through trial. The prosecution cannot force you to testify, and the judge typically tells the jury that they cannot use your silence as proof of guilt. At the same time, jurors are human, and many people have strong opinions about whether an accused person should tell their side.
We never make this decision lightly. We look at the evidence, your prior statements, your background, and how you present under practice questioning. In some cases, your testimony may help jurors understand your actions or see the State’s narrative as incomplete. In others, the risk of aggressive cross examination or bringing in damaging prior history may outweigh any benefit. We talk through these pros and cons with you in detail so that, if you testify or if you do not, it is a strategic choice made with full information, not a last minute reaction.
Closing Arguments, Jury Instructions & Deliberation
Once both sides have finished presenting evidence, the lawyers give closing arguments. The prosecutor goes first, summarizing the evidence and telling the jury why they believe the State has met its burden. Then we stand up and walk the jury through the same evidence from your side. Closing is our chance to connect the dots, point out contradictions, and remind jurors of every reasonable doubt that remains.
In closing, we often return to the key themes we introduced in opening and revisit crucial moments in witness testimony. We emphasize where the State’s story does not line up, where witnesses disagreed, and where critical proof is missing. Our direct approach to litigation means we do not shy away from confronting weak points in the prosecution’s case and showing jurors why those weaknesses matter under the law they must apply.
After closing arguments, the judge reads jury instructions. These are written directions that explain the charges, list the elements of each offense that the State must prove, and restate the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors receive these instructions in writing when they go back to deliberate. Hearing them can feel technical, but they are important, because they define exactly what the jury is supposed to decide and what happens if they have doubt about any element.
The jury then moves to a private room to deliberate. They may review admitted exhibits, ask the judge written questions, or request that testimony be read back. Deliberations in Starkville criminal trials may be quick or may take many hours, even stretching over more than one day in serious cases. During this time, you and your family usually wait in or near the courthouse. We stay accessible to you, explain any notes that come back from the jury, and prepare for the different possible outcomes so no one is caught completely off guard when the jury returns.
Verdict, Sentencing & What Happens After Trial
When the jury reaches a decision, everyone is called back into the courtroom. The judge asks the jury foreperson whether a verdict has been reached. The clerk then reads the verdict aloud, count by count. This is one of the most intense moments in a criminal case. We sit with you at counsel table so you are not facing it alone. If the verdict is not guilty on all charges, the case is over and you are acquitted. There may still be paperwork and logistical steps, but the criminal process on that case is finished.
If the jury returns a guilty verdict on any count, the case moves into the sentencing phase. In some Starkville cases, especially on less serious charges, the judge may sentence you immediately after hearing from both sides. In other cases, particularly felonies, the court may set a later sentencing date to allow for a pre sentence investigation or additional preparation. Sentencing laws are complex and depend on the exact charge and your history, so we discuss likely ranges and options with you long before this day so you are not hearing everything for the first time in the courtroom.
After sentencing, we also talk with you about what comes next. Depending on the facts and legal issues in your case, there may be grounds to appeal or to file post conviction motions. An appeal usually focuses on legal issues, such as rulings on motions or jury instructions, rather than simply disagreeing with the verdict. A conviction does not automatically end all legal options, but timelines for action are strict, so it is important to have a defense team that is already thinking ahead.
If you are acquitted, our focus shifts to helping you move forward. That can include answering questions about how the case appears on background checks, what happens to bond conditions, and how to rebuild work and family routines that may have been disrupted during the criminal process. In either outcome, we remain involved to help you understand and navigate the next steps.
How We Prepare You For Trial in Starkville
Understanding the phases of a criminal trial is one thing. Walking through them with a legal team that has done it many times in Starkville is very different from trying to face it alone. At Vollor Law Firm, P.A., we start preparing for trial long before jurors arrive at the courthouse. We review discovery in detail, investigate facts on the ground, file motions to shape the evidence, and build a theory of the case that makes sense to a local jury.
We also focus on you. That means meeting in person to answer questions, explaining each upcoming hearing and deadline, and helping you plan for the realities of trial days, from taking time off work or classes to arranging childcare. We run through practice questioning if you may testify, talk about how to handle seeing certain witnesses in court, and make sure you know where to go and what to expect when you walk into the courthouse for your criminal trial in Starkville.
Our long history in Mississippi criminal defense, including reductions, dismissals, and acquittals for many clients over the years, has confirmed our belief in the right to trial by jury. We do not treat trial as a threat to force a plea. When it is in your best interest to go before a jury, we are ready to do so and to stand beside you through every stage described in this guide. At the same time, we give you honest assessments so that any decision to accept a plea or proceed to trial is informed, not rushed.
If you or someone you care about is facing a criminal trial in Starkville, you do not have to guess what will happen or try to piece together answers from television shows and rumors. We can walk you through the process step by step and build a plan that fits your case and your life. Call us to talk about your charges, your court dates, and how we can prepare for trial together.
Facing a criminal charge in Starkville can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what to expect at trial. Call (662) 269-6188 to contact our Starkville criminal defense attorneys to discuss your case, understand your rights, and prepare for the next stage of the legal process.