Legal Question in DUI Law in Washington

What to expect when going to court

You will first be arraigned by the court. This simply means that the court will explain the charges against you and enter a plea of either guilty or not guilty. You should never enter a plea of guilty on a DUI at arraignment because the consequences of a DUI conviction are severe and a good lawyer may be able to help you minimize them. After the arraignment will be pretrial hearings. At the pretrial hearings your lawyer will negotiate with the prosecutor based on things like the legal facts of your case, your criminal history, and the state of the DUI laws. During this time you�ll have an opportunity to see the evidence against you and to discuss it with your lawyer. You and your lawyer may decide that it is best for you to plead guilty to a lesser charge or to bring legal motions and fight your DUI charge altogether. If you decide to fight the DUI charge then your lawyer will bring legal motions on your behalf and the judge will determine if the charges against you should be pursued or dismissed based upon the specific facts of your case. If your case is not resolved by this point then it is likely that the case will be scheduled for trial. At trial a jury will determine whether or not the prosecutor can prove its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. If a jury decides that you are not guilty then you walk away never to be bothered by this again. If the jury decides that you are guilty, then the judge will impose a sentence upon you. If you agree with the jury�s and judge�s decision then you abide by it. If you disagree with the decisions, then you may have an opportunity to appeal it to a higher court.