Are you facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI) in California? If so, you may get a pretrial conference. What should you expect during a pretrial conference for a DUI charge? This conference may give your lawyer a chance to speak to:
- The prosecution
- The judge
In some cases, DUI charges may get resolved at a pretrial conference. In other situations, a lawyer may use the opportunity to make a number of pretrial motions. Get more information about the exact uses of a pretrial conference right here.
Basic Information About a Pretrial Conference for a DUI
Pretrial conferences occur before a criminal trial begins. However, they do not take place immediately after your arrest. Instead, pretrial conferences generally take place after the discovery phase of your case. Your lawyer focuses on investigating your case during the discovery phase.
Attendance at your pretrial conference will be limited. You can expect to see the judge and the prosecutors handling your case. Your lawyer should also attend a pretrial conference. However, there will not be a jury or a large number of other people.
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Goals of a Pretrial Conference in California
Your pretrial conference occurs for a number of different reasons. This conference allows the judge to determine if your case is ready to go to trial. Note that many DUI cases in California are resolved before you go to trial. Your case could even be resolved during the pretrial conference.
In many cases, DUI charges end with a plea bargain. A plea bargain represents a deal offered by the prosecution. You must accept criminal charges to get a plea bargain. In exchange, the prosecution offers you less severe penalties.
A judge may approve or disapprove a plea bargain at a pretrial conference. Your lawyer may also review the plea bargain on your behalf. Not all plea bargains are in your best interests. It’s a good idea to get legal help before your pretrial conference. Start getting assistance on your side now by calling a DUI lawyer at (310) 896-2723.
Legal Motions and Your DUI Pretrial Conference
A pretrial conference may allow your lawyer to make some legal motions. These motions may help support your case or weaken the prosecution. Your DUI lawyer may:
- Make a Motion to Suppress Evidence in order to block evidence against you
- Make a Motion for Supplemental Discovery to get additional evidence for you
- File a Romero motion to temporarily “remove” a strike from your record
- File a Pitchess motion to get information about the officer who arrested you
Your lawyer may also ask for samples of your blood or urine. These samples may get sent for independent testing. They must come from the samples of blood or urine originally taken at the time of your arrest. Sometimes, independent testing reveals that your blood alcohol content (BAC) was not over the legal limit. This could strengthen your case.
Finally, a lawyer may address any violations of your rights at a pretrial conference. Arresting officers sometimes violate your Miranda rights in California. These violations should be taken seriously by the court. They may impact the evidence brought against you after a DUI.
What to Expect After a Pretrial Conference in California
Many DUI cases in California are resolved before your criminal trial. In some cases, your charges could get dismissed at a pretrial conference. A judge may dismiss your charges if enough evidence against you is blocked. This could undercut the prosecution’s case, allowing you to go about your life.
You may also agree to accept a plea bargain at your pretrial conference. Accepting a plea bargain effectively ends your case. At this point, you accept the penalties handed down by the court. You may then need to pay fines, install an ignition interlock device (IID), and deal with other court-ordered penalties.
However, your charges may not get resolved so quickly. In this situation, your case may proceed to court in California. Your lawyer would then support you in front of a judge and jury. In some cases, your lawyer may bring you a not-guilty verdict.
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Speak to a Lawyer About a DUI Pretrial Conference
What is a DUI pretrial conference in California? It’s a meeting between your lawyer, the prosecution, and the judge handling your case. During this conference, your charges could get resolved. Find out more about a pretrial conference with the Simmrin Law Group. Reach out to our DUI lawyers now. Just call (310) 896-2723. You may also complete our online contact form.
We provide clients in your situation with free consultations, so reach out to us now.
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