Atlanta Municipal Court DUI Arraignment: Should I Hire a DUI Specialist?

By William C. Head, DUI Lawyer

A DUI Lawyer From My Office Is in the Atlanta Municipal Court Every Day

As the most experienced DUI law firm in Atlanta, a member of our criminal defense law firm is at the Municipal Court of Atlanta every morning for the arraignment calendar. This means that our best DUI lawyers are there to help with your case, so you don’t have to worry.

Our lawyers in Atlanta, GA can appear at Atlanta Traffic Court on your DUI case without you having to be present, once a member of our law firm is retained.

The Atlanta Municipal Court schedules you to appear in court immediately, on any traffic offenses (including DUI charges) requiring arrest and bonding. So, following your DUI arrest for driving under the influence for a misdemeanor drunk driving offense, you may be going to court the next morning after your arrest. These Atlanta traffic arrests are made by the Atlanta Police Department or the Georgia State Patrol Nighthawks. So, if your DUI arraignment is set for tomorrow or the next day, CALL US NOW! We answer our phones 24/7 and can help you with a Saturday or Sunday appointment. Our toll free number is 1-888-384-4323. Our lawyers have collectively handled over 10,000 cases for DUI in Georgia.

Don’t Plead Guilty or Nolo Contendere (No Contest) to a DUI Charge in Atlanta at Your Arraignment

Your arraignment date and time at the Municipal Court of Atlanta is determined by when you were arrested for DUI in the City of Atlanta. If you are arrested Monday through Thursday night, your arraignment will likely be held the next day at 8 a.m. or 3 p.m. However, individuals who are arrested Friday, Saturday, or on a Monday holiday will be arraigned on the next weekday. So, by the time you bond out of the City of Atlanta Detention Center, you typically need to appear in court within the next 24 hours!

We are one of the law firms in Atlanta known for specializing in criminal defense, and particularly, DUI defense. A lawyer from our law firm in Atlanta CAN APPEAR FOR YOU, once we are hired. Call us NOW, so we can save you from this needless Atlanta Courthouse appearance.

During arraignment, Judge Ward, the Municipal Court of Atlanta Chief Judge, will ask the prosecutor (called the Solicitor General), to recite the charges against you and ask how you plead. You have three options: guilty, not guilty or a plea of no contest (nolo contendere). A plea of guilty or no contest means that your DUI case is over and you will be sentenced. This is NOT what you should do, because a DUI conviction in Georgia is FOREVER. It will be on your criminal record for life. Hire a DUI attorney to look for ways to work the case, or get the DUI reduced to reckless driving or other less serious offense.

We Can Appear at Atlanta Traffic Court for You

The good news about arraignment is that a criminal defense attorney in the City of Atlanta Municipal Court from my office can appear on your behalf. In fact, the only court appearance that you will be required to make is at the final plea. Some cases are bound over to the jury trial court, either Fulton County State Court or DeKalb County State Court, depending on which county your arrest was made within the Atlanta city limits. This allows “coverage” of your DUI case by a specialist in drunk driving defense. You are freed up to go to work or school, thus minimizing the impact a driving while intoxicated charge has on your personal and professional life.

We Give You a FREE CONSULTATION and FREE BOOK

Even though we are aware that not all people arrested for criminal charges (like a DUI) can afford to hire private legal counsel, we are willing to review your impaired driving case and help you obtain professional legal help. Public defenders do not have the trial experience that we offer, but we can help you determine if you financially qualify for a public defender without having to publicly answer questions in court. If not, we may have a payment plan or multiple fee alternatives that will help you get the best legal representation for your pending drunk driving or drugged driving case in Atlanta, GA.  Like with a medical issue, you need a top DUI lawyer in Atlanta for representation in a drunken driving case.

For more information on this arraignment process, please call us immediately at 1-888-384-4323 or 404-567-5515, or complete our online form today to schedule a FREE case evaluation.