Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: court proceedings

Generally the court will give someone about 3 weeks. After that you are starting to push it. The court will probably extend the time period but they will want to know what is taking so long and what you have been doing. However, if you know something is going to delay you ask for as much time as you can get. The DA may not oppose it and you may get some extra time to find an attorney. Good luck

Re: court proceedings

Generally, the court should give you 2 to 3 weeks although it would not hurt to ask for more if indeed you need more time. The court should be sympathetic to your request as having a private counsel involved means less burden on public resources, i.e., the public defender's office.

The best way is to ask to continue the arraignment date to get as much time as possible.

Even if you cannot secure a private attorney during the time given by the judge, not all is lost. You can start being represented by a public defender and a private lawyer could substitute in as attorney of record pretty much any time, sometimes even well after the case has started.

Generally speaking, a private lawyer will give your case a lot more attention and preparation than an average overworked public defender would.

Feel free to contact me for a confidential and non-binding consultation if you are looking for an lawyer in Southern California.

Best,

Jacek W. Lentz, Esq.

310.273.1361

www.lentzlawfirm.com

Re: court proceedings

In Van Nuys, they will usually continue the arraignment by about a week.

The preferred practice is to retain an attorney well before your first court appearance.

Re: court proceedings

It really depends which court you are talking about, but generally, 1-3 weeks.