| The first thing which anyone should do immediately | | | | documentation. All of this is done in order to assist your |
| they are arrested for a DUI charge is to hire a DUI | | | | legal representation in forming a credible defense for |
| attorney. It is absolutely vital that you do this. There are | | | | you. This process is often referred to as |
| many long and far reaching consequences of being | | | | ‘discovery’. |
| convicted for a DUI. None of these are appealing. In | | | | The pre-trial hearings are aimed at ensuring that a |
| order to stop or at at least limit the amount of damage | | | | case is advancing at the right pace. The counsels of |
| which a DUI conviction will cause, you need the | | | | both parties are also expected to present the various |
| assistance of DUI lawyer. Depending on the state in | | | | motions which they wish to be filed. In the event that a |
| which your arrest took place, your attorney will be able | | | | defense attorney finds that he/she needs more time |
| to provide you with important insights as to what to | | | | for discovery such extensions (known as continuance) |
| expect. | | | | may or may not be granted at a pretrial hearing. It is |
| Subsequent to a person’s arrest, he/she is then | | | | also during this period that a defense attorney will try |
| taken to the police station where he is placed in a | | | | to speak with the prosecutor in order to discover what |
| holding station after the person has been booked. It is | | | | deal—if any—is being offered by the state. The |
| only after this has been done that the option of paying | | | | defense attorney can then either choose to accept |
| for bail emerges. However, the decision to pay bail is | | | | the offered deal or continue with the case at which |
| optional. For those who chose not to or are unable to | | | | point a new court date will be set. Many cases end up |
| pay bail, they police will retain custody of them until the | | | | having more than one pretrial date. |
| time of the court hearing. For people who do post bail, | | | | The motions hearing and eventual trials are the next |
| such moneys are returned when they turn up for their | | | | step to be found. During the motion hearings, |
| first court appearance. | | | | arguments are made by the defense on why the |
| The first appearance in court is also known as an | | | | case should not be attended to by the court. If the |
| arraignment. This process is merely procedural in | | | | defense counsel should succeed the case is then |
| nature and intent. Here, a person is asked to plead | | | | thrown out. There are many different motions available |
| either guilt or not guilty. For people who have not been | | | | and the decision of which is most applicable to your |
| able to hire an attorney, the period of arraignment | | | | case will be decided by your DUI lawyer. Motions can |
| provides them with a chance to accomplish this. | | | | also be used in the suppression of evidence being |
| However, if the option is within your means it is best if | | | | offered by either side. This can go a long way in either |
| you have already hired a DUI attorney long before this. | | | | strengthening or weakening the case of the defendant |
| More often than not a DUI attorney will advise people | | | | or prosecution. |
| to plead “Not Guilty” even if their case appears | | | | The trial is where all the evidence that the state has |
| weak in way of defense. Subsequent to a | | | | against you comes into play. The prosecution will use |
| person’s plea, the date for the next hearing will be | | | | this to prove evidence of your guilt. However, just like |
| set by the judge. This is accompanied with the | | | | most criminal cases, these elements will have to be |
| judge’s outlining of the terms of release. | | | | proven in order for the state to get a conviction. By |
| The next court appearance is known as the pretrial | | | | being able to disprove one or more of the evidence |
| hearing. But, before the date is reached, a person’s | | | | held against a client, a skilled DUI lawyer can |
| DUI attorney is expected to have gone through the | | | | successfully win the case. In the end, preparing for the |
| evidence possessed by the state against his client. | | | | various stages of court appearance might not be able |
| This involves looking over the reports submitted by the | | | | to remove the mental strain, but it certainly will help you |
| police as well as those of breathalyzer tests and other | | | | get through the period better. |