Arraignments And DUIs
As state governments seek to crack down on the number of drunk driving accidents, the standards for sobriety have been increasing. While these laws are publicized, not everyone keeps up with these standards, and some people just go out and drive drunk. When that happens and you get caught, you can expect to go through a series of legal actions that will determine whether you are guilty or not guilty.
One of the first things that always happens in a DUI is the arraignment. For individuals who are new to this process, the arraignment can be rather intimidating. It is not a fun experience, but it is important that you understand what you are dealing with so that you can take the appropriate action.
The Basics of Arraignment
As you can see from the sites LegalZoom reviews, arraignment occurs with almost every single case that goes through the courthouse criminal system. The purpose of the arraignment is to determine how the case will proceed. This is the first time that you will appear with a lawyer, if you choose to have one; and it may also be the time at which your bail is set, depending on the state.
Do You Have to Have an Attorney
Even though this is the most common situation for individuals to have an attorney appear on their behalf, it is not required. You can always get one later. As you can see from the sites LegalZoom reviews, you can easily handle an arraignment on your own so long as you know what you want to do.
Your Options in Arraignment
At arraignment, you have to decide whether you are going to claim guilty or not guilty. The sites LegalZoom reviews strongly recommend pleading not guilty if additional charges or previous charges are about to go into effect unless you have been given a good plea bargain. The other option is to make sure that you speak with an attorney to make sure that you don’t inadvertently lose some of your rights.
The judge will not contest your decision. When you are asked to give your decision, you or your attorney will simply state “guilty” or “not guilty.” From there, the judge will state what is to happen next and the time for the next hearing. This is not the place for the evidence. If you are representing yourself, do not attempt to argue with the judge or you will be held in contempt of court.