Before I get started discussing the arraignment process associated with a criminal case, I want to make sure you know how important it is to hire a Seattle DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest.
This is important for a couple of reasons; first, your DUI lawyer will be able to explain this process to you and answer any questions this article creates; and second, you are going to need an advocate for your case, and the only person that can help you is a criminal defense attorney.
The arraignment, generally is the first time for you to appear before the court, have your charges provided to you, and to enter a plea on those charges. Procedurally, your arraignment must be scheduled within fifteen days of your arrest if you are kept in custody, and within fifteen days of your first court appearance if you are not in custody. Typically, if you are not in custody, the arraignment will be your first court appearance.
If you have a DUI attorney, the arraignment process will last about 3 minutes once you finally get up in front of the judge. Once there, your attorney will announce to the court that you are there, acknowledge receipt of the complaint, stipulate to probable cause for the purposes of this hearing (basically acknowledge to the judge that the prosecutor has at least some basis for bringing the charges), and enter a plea of not guilty on your behalf. After that, the judge will set your next court date, establish your conditions of release, and let you go.
It is important to have a DUI lawyer at this hearing specifically for the conditions of release. These conditions are supposed to be set to ensure that you will make it to your next court hearing, and to keep the public safe. If you have a very high BAC reading or a history of DUI convictions, the prosecutor may ask for, and the judge may order, more stringent conditions of release. In this case you need someone there to advocate for you to keep your conditions of release at a minimum.
In the end, the arraignment is a procedural device to get you in court and get the criminal process started. You will plead not guilty, get your next court date, and get out. Having a DUI defense attorney will ensure the process runs smoothly.
Next up, the pretrial hearing.
Related Posts:
Seattle DUI Attorney | Probable Cause
Seattle DUI Attorney | Don't Talk to Cops
