DUI Arraignment

Have you recently been charged with driving under the influence? If so, you may be confused by the court process – there are several steps that must be taken before a case actually goes to trial. Hiring an experienced DUI defense lawyer can assist you in navigating the complicated court proceedings.

The DUI arraignment is the first step in the trial process. This hearing occurs shortly after you are released on bail following your drunk-driving arrest.

During DUI arraignment, the judge presiding over the hearing will read out the charges against you. He or she will then ask if you have an attorney or need to have an attorney appointed to you. In cases that involve potential jail time, it is your Constitutional right to have an attorney during criminal proceedings.

Next, the judge will ask how you plead. There are three possible answers you may give: not guilty, guilty, or no contest. It is important that you discuss how you should plead with your attorney before the arraignment.

It is common for people to plead guilty at this point, making the arraignment the first and last time a person enters a courtroom for the DUI offense. If you plead guilty or no contest, you may be sentenced on the spot. If you plead not guilty, the judge will announce the future court dates for the other proceedings related to the DUI case.

The judge will then hand over copies of the police reports as well as any chemical test results to your defense attorney. These reports and results are critical in preparing for the upcoming court dates for the preliminary hearing, pre-trial motions, and trial.

It may be tempting to just plead guilty to get the hassle of the court proceedings over with; however, there is much at stake. If you plead guilty, you may be sentenced to jail time, probation, community service, loss of driving privileges, and much more. If you hire a skilled defense lawyer to fight your drunk-driving charges, the charges against you may be minimized or even dropped altogether.

For more information regarding the DUI arraignment, contact a defense lawyer in your area today.