Main Speech Strategies of Defense Attorneys in Special-Procedure Criminal Proceedings

The role of a defense attorney in criminal proceedings entails protecting the interests of the defendant within the framework of applicable law. Accordingly, an attorney must not only perform the functions of a defender during court hearings but also operate within the legal regulations governing legal practice. Of particular interest is the study of the range of speech strategies employed by attorneys in special-procedure cases, in which proving the defendant’s innocence is no longer required, but identifying mitigating circum-stances that could influence the severity and scope of the sentence becomes essential. Analysis of transcripts from ten special-procedure criminal cases revealed a consistent tendency to construct a socially acceptable image of the defendant. This strategy is im-plemented across all micro-genres of courtroom discourse where the attorney speaks, namely — through motions, questioning, and arguments during closing statements aimed at mitigating the sentence.