A common question that I find myself answering all the time related to DUI defense in Los Angeles is my client's responsibilities regarding attending their DUI court appearances.
As with many aspects of life and DUI defense, the answer to whether you have to attend your court appearances is, “It depends.” Drawing from my twenty-five years of practicing DUI defense, I can provide you with the best practices and procedures. My aim is to always make the process as smooth as possible for you, leveraging my experience to navigate any potential issues.
If you are an out-of-state driver and wish to avoid coming back to California to deal with your DUI matter, we will try and accommodate that request in every way possible. We can often negotiate a deal without you being present and do the paperwork through the mail using a notary.
If you're looking to fight your DUI, your presence is crucial. It's not just about showing the jury that you care about the case and its outcome but also about being an active part of the process. Your involvement is necessary for any realistic chance of winning.
First DUI Court Appearance
If, on the other hand, you are an in-state driver, then our usual protocol is to attend your first court appearance, pick up the discovery in the case (review it), discuss the case with the prosecutor, and continue the issue so we can get you a copy of the paperwork and plan our strategy.
If, after discussing the matter, we decide to negotiate a resolution with the prosecutor/judge, we will usually have you come to court to finalize everything. This lets you know how the prosecutors want to resolve the case without the pressure of being in the courtroom and making a snap decision.
Our collaborative approach is designed to ensure that you understand and fulfill your responsibilities in a DUI case. When attorneys exclude their clients from the process, it often leads to problems. I've had to step in after an attorney failed to adequately explain a client's responsibilities, resulting in a dropped ball in court. This can lead to embarrassment and disaster for the client, which we strive to avoid.
If you fail to do something that you are ordered to do in a DUI case, you can be punished for violating your probation. This can lead to jail time, increased fines, cal trans, and a lot of worry and headaches for nothing.
Most problems like this can all be avoided if you are correctly advised, present at the final court appearance, go through everything with the attorney step by step, and know precisely your responsibilities related to your DUI case.
Defending DUI Cases in Court
Is it that scary in DUI court? Most people fear public speaking and being put on the spot. This fear is amplified when they are forced to court to answer criminal / DUI charges. However, this fear can be significantly alleviated when you know exactly what will happen in court and already know the resolution to the case before you set foot in the courtroom. We make it a point to give our clients a complete rundown of what to expect in court, which often helps to reduce their anxiety.
Our approach to defending DUI cases in Los Angeles includes providing a comprehensive overview of what to expect in court and ensuring that you know the likely outcome before your court appearance. This preparation can significantly reduce the anxiety associated with court appearances and help you feel more in control of the situation.
In those few cases where we do not know the outcome before going to court on the day of the appearance, we have the client wait outside the courtroom while the attorney goes in and speaks with the prosecutor and judge. Once we have a clear understanding of how we will proceed, we go back out and discuss the matter with the client and make the moves in their best interest.
