Your DUI Criminal Case

Most clients want to know what is going to happen to them when they get to court.  Most of our first impressions of court come from movies or what we’ve seen on television.  Psychologically, going to court can be a very scary process for the uninitiated.  At the Law Offices of Michael E. Mitchell, we do our best to take the fear out of your court experience.  Generally your Drunk Driving/DUI case will start with a notice to appear or citation informing you of a date to appear in court.  The first court date is the arraignment.  On that first court date, we will be presented with a copy of the complaint, and will plead “not guilty.”  If you have previously missed your court date and failed to appear, the judge may have issued a bench warrant for your arrest.  We can recall the warrant at the arraignment or any subsequent court date and resume your DUI case.  Following the arraignment is usually a pre-trial conference or status where we will discuss possible settlement of your DUI case.  In addition, there may be several other court dates, including dates for motions in your case to challenge the probable cause for the stop or detention, motions to dismiss for failure to timely prosecute, motions to contest the validity of the DUI checkpoint, etc.  If settlement negotiations and all possible motions have been made and your case is still unresolved, the next step is to present your case to a jury.  At the Law Offices of Michael E. Mitchell, we have a winning track record at trial and will never back down.  If we can’t achieve what you want through negotiation, we will do our best to beat your DUI case at trial. 

Will I Need to be in Court?

First, on most first, second and even some third time Drunk Driving/DUI cases you may not need to appear in court.  The Law Offices of Michael E. Mitchell can appear on your behalf.  As a matter of fact, you may never need to see the inside of a court room!  How is this possible?  The answer lies in Penal Code section 977, which allows us to appear for our client without them being personally present on misdemeanor cases.  Even on felony DUI cases or DUI cases involving injury, an attorney can appear for their client without the client having to show up as long as the Judge approves the waiver of the client’s personal appearance.  A 977 waiver on a felony does require the client to sign the waiver in open court in front of the judge- so at least one personal appearance is required.  After that, with some exceptions, we can appear for you without you having to show up in court.  This is a huge benefit to clients that do not reside in the Central Valley.  It enables you to continue earning a living without your DUI case ruining your life.   

Fresno DUI Lawyer

Fresno Criminal Lawyers

The Law Office of Michael E. Mitchell defends clients charged with DUI / DWI and traffic offenses in California's Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley, including Fresno County, Tulare County, Merced County, Madera County, County of Kings, Mariposa County, Fresno, Tulare, Merced, Madera, Kings County, Mariposa, Visalia, Hanford, Dinuba, Los Banos, Selma, Kingsburg, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley, Kerman, Parlier, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Mendota, Visalia, Avenal, Corcoran, Lemoore, Porterville, Bass Lake, Shaver Lake, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park.  We also defend motorists pulled over for traffic violations along San Joaquins roads and highways including interstate 5 and highways, 49, 41, 99, 168, 192, 180.