When it comes to a DUI case, the decision of whether to plead guilty is not one to be made lightly. It's a complex matter that should be discussed with your attorney. Your attorney's role is crucial in helping you review all available evidence and determine the best course of action for your specific circumstances. Their expertise and understanding of the legal system will be invaluable in guiding you through this process.
At this critical juncture, honesty and straightforwardness should be your guiding principles. It's not the time for irrelevant DUI defenses, but a time to focus on the facts of your situation. This approach will help you and your attorney make informed decisions.
I always laugh when clients call me, rambling about a defense they heard from another attorney, and I ask them if their case has the facts to support that reason. They quickly realize that they are talking to a salesperson with a script on the other end of the line, which says the same thing to everyone who calls, regardless of their situation.
First, you should not plead guilty if you are innocent of the charges. Next, you should not claim guilty if the police and prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence to convict.
The only way to assess this is to have all of the prosecutors' evidence before you and discuss that evidence with a seasoned DUI defense attorney looking out for your best interests. If the prosecutors have the evidence to convict you, your attorney can negotiate the best deal possible on your behalf.
I always cringe when I see or hear attorneys claiming that a person should not plead guilty without knowing anything about that person's case. This, to me, is simply an advertising ploy to pique the viewer's curiosity and try and sell them to the attorney.
The problem with this approach is that it sets unrealistic expectations for the client. Believing that the attorney will miraculously get them off the DUI without any basis in fact or evidence is a dangerous misconception. I refuse to engage in such misleading practices. If you encounter such promises, it's best to trust your common sense and make informed decisions about your DUI case.
Evidence vs. Defending A DUI Case
Before you decide whether to plead guilty or not, you'd better see what evidence the government has against you and get a full explanation from an attorney who has been down the road you are about to travel, and see the pitfalls along the way.
Attorneys who are already saying you are innocent and should fight your case should not be trusted before knowing anything about your situation. As much as you love to hear that you can win after the police have arrested and roughed you up, it is not suitable if it is being said to get your money.
DUI Plea Bargain in LA County
The fact is that most DUI cases filed in Los Angeles County are typically resolved through a plea bargain. Those attorneys who make it sound like they are winning cases left and right are not telling the truth. Ask them to see their last ten DUI jury trial wins (they are a matter of public record) and watch their facings drop.
If a case is winnable, a solid DUI defense attorney should be able to win it. If, on the other hand, the authorities have the goods on the client, then it is not fair to take money from them under the pretense that the case can be won if it simply cannot.
Just because a case cannot be won entirely, other factors can still help the client. These things include negotiating lower charges and minimizing the punishment a person must face. Your attorney needs all the available evidence, as well as a conversation with you, to properly evaluate this and find the best possible outcome for you.
I make it a point to meet with the client and provide them with a realistic assessment of their case from the outset. This way, when they hire me, we are both on the same page, and the client has a clear understanding of what is realistic in their case from the outset.
No one wants to be surprised in a criminal defense case. And indeed, no one wants to be told one thing at the beginning of the case, only to have the rug snatched out from under them later on.
