What happens when you go to trial
People ask what happens when going to trial when you believe you did nothing wrong. I covered that question in an interview with Dr. Ron Elfenbein.
His case moved from indictment, to conviction, to a 93-page opinion throwing out the conviction, and then back toward another trial after the government appealed. The story shows the delay, the legal costs, and the strain on a family while the case continues for months and years.
When I speak with defendants, I explain that most people plead guilty. In fact, many people plead guilty even while maintaining their innocence because trial is expensive and losing can carry massive collateral consequences. Ron made a different decision. He said he would not raise his hand and say he had committed something he didn’t do.
The choice to go to trial
In the interview, I said more than 100 people in our community have gone through trial. Ron is the only person I mentioned who either prevailed outright or was convicted and then had the conviction thrown out by a judge.
Ron told me the choice was simple for him. Pleading guilty would have required him to say he committed something he did not do. He called that perjury.
He also knew he was still facing the possible loss of his medical license and the possibility of prison. For him, pleading guilty would not have solved those problems.
What happened after going to trial
The guilty verdict and the 93 page opinion
Ron said the jury returned a guilty verdict and described it as the worst day of his life. The chief judge in Maryland presided over the case and paid close attention during the proceedings.
Three to four months later, that judge issued a 93 page opinion. Ron said the opinion dismantled the government’s case, acquitted him on all counts, and granted a new trial in case the government appealed.
During trial, Ron said he kept thinking the government had presented no evidence. He also noticed some jurors not paying attention, including one looking at an iWatch.
Why going to trial did not end the case
Even after the acquittal, the case did not end.
Ron explained that the government filed an appeal just before the deadline, weeks before the inauguration. That appeal placed him back in line for another trial scheduled for August.
Going to trial did not end the financial burden either. Ron told me he must pay his legal team again, likely even more than before. I pointed out that the government has unlimited resources and can wear people down over time.
Ron agreed. He said he continues paying his lawyers every month.
The cost of a federal trial
Ron described the first months after indictment as brutal. The indictment itself provided little useful information and read mostly like legal language.
He told me he could not sleep or eat and became a shell of himself. The case affected his entire household. His wife is a physician, and they have four young children.
One child was spared only because he was three years old and did not understand what was happening. His middle daughter slept in his bed for more than a year because she could not sleep alone.
Ron also said his other children, who are straight-A students, all went to therapy for the first time in their lives. After the acquittal, he said he finally slept through the night for the first time in almost three years.
Work stopped even after the acquittal
Ron also explained that his professional life stopped.
For two years, he could not work as a physician. His medical license was not taken away, but hospitals did not want to credential a doctor who had been indicted.
Malpractice insurers also refused coverage because he had not practiced medicine during that time. Even after the acquittal, that gap kept him out of emergency rooms.
Eventually, he accepted a position as medical director for a company providing care in prisons and jails. Now he travels across Maryland checking on medical services inside county facilities.
Prepare even if you plan on going to trial
One of the most important lessons from the interview involved preparation.
Ron joined our community before trial and began preparing for the worst-case scenario. I mentioned during the interview that he spoke with me at the University of Southern California.
He also volunteered with Prison Professors and began documenting his work before any sentencing hearing existed.
The sequence matters. He did not wait until after going to trial or after a conviction to begin building a record.
Go to trial and still document your life
I told Ron that one of the things I respected was that he did not delay preparing his record. He agreed.
He gave an example from the period between conviction and acquittal. During the Gaza war, he offered through his attorney to volunteer in Israel as an emergency room doctor without pay. The government declined.
Ron said the broader point is simple. While a case is pending, people should try to use their time to help others.
If someone is an attorney, they can offer legal help at a library. If someone is a doctor, they might volunteer at a clinic or soup kitchen.
Going public after trial
Ron explained that his lawyers originally told him not to speak publicly about the case. He followed that advice for two and a half years.
Later he read about Dr. Kirk Moore in Utah. Ron said Moore spoke publicly and loudly about his case, and the Department of Justice dropped Moore’s charges during trial.
Ron asked his lawyer for guardrails and then began speaking publicly. He joined X, connected with Weaponization Watch, and began posting regularly.
He said his goal was simple. He wants someone in the administration to step back and review the facts objectively. He said he is not asking for special treatment.
Advice for people thinking about going to trial
At the end of the interview, I asked Ron what he would say to someone going through a similar crisis.
He said people must keep perspective. No matter what happens, prison or something else, life continues.
He said he reminded himself daily that he still had his health and still had a loving family.
Ron also described one practical routine. Every day he went to the YMCA, exercised hard, and then sat in the sauna for 45 minutes. As a physician, he said exercise and sauna helped him manage stress and sleep better.
My closing point remains the same. The government does not delay indictments, so preparation should not be delayed either.
If you are under investigation, considering going to trial, or preparing for sentencing, begin building your record now.
Key Takeaways
- Going to trial can involve years of uncertainty, legal costs, and emotional strain on families.
- Even a conviction can later be challenged or overturned by the court.
- Government appeals can extend a case even after an acquittal.
- Preparing early—before trial or sentencing—can still matter.
- Defendants should start documenting their actions and contributions immediately
FAQs
What happens when someone is going to trial in federal court?
Going to trial means presenting the case before a judge or jury rather than pleading guilty. As Ron’s case shows, the process can involve long delays, significant costs, and appeals that extend the timeline.
Can someone prepare for sentencing even if they plan on Going to trial?
Yes. Ron began documenting his work, volunteering, and building a record before any sentencing hearing existed. Preparation does not require admitting guilt.
Why do many defendants avoid Going to trial?
Many people avoid trial because it is expensive and losing can lead to severe consequences. Even individuals who maintain their innocence sometimes plead guilty for this reason.
What happened after Ron’s conviction at trial?
The jury initially convicted him. However, the judge later issued a 93 page opinion acquitting him and granting a new trial in case the government appealed.
Why did the case continue after the acquittal?
The government filed an appeal before the deadline. That appeal placed Ron back in line for another trial.
How did the case affect Ron’s professional life?
He could not work for two years. Hospitals would not credential him, and malpractice insurers refused coverage.
What helped Ron manage the stress during the case?
He said exercise and sauna helped him most. He went to the YMCA daily and used the sauna for about 45 minutes.
Should someone start preparing while their case is still active?
Yes. Preparation can begin immediately, even before trial or sentencing. Documenting actions and contributing to others can matter later.
