What if a can’t afford a lawyer for a DUI?
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at
6:37 pm
If i got busted for diet pills without a prescription a DUI in Illinois, and can’t afford a lawyer, does the state provides me with a public defender? and if it does… where should I go to request him?
Last year I got a DUI. Where I live a 0.08 is considered a drunk driver. I’m not sure what the limit is in Tennessee. Try calling a DUI attorney for a free evaluation. http://www.findaduilawyeronline.com
So you understand, a public defender is not free…at least not in NJ.
I’ve sat through traffic court a few times, and it seems like the fee for one varied…but they are not free.
Further, a public defender cannot spend the same amount of time defending you that commercial lawyer will. He or she will do their best…but their time will be severely limited. In the court house I was in, the person requested one of the judge, before the proceding started.
Good luck.
my father was areested for a 2 dwi. he wanted to plead quilty. he was advised that he would get 6 months in jail. he told them that he could not afford a lawyer the courts told him to see a public defender. which he did not paiy nothing for the lawyer. but had to pay the price for the dwi. no jail. this was in louisana.a lawyer should be giving ti you in your miranda rights
At the pretrial hearing you will be asked if you have an attorney and you can tell them then that you don’t have one and can’t afford one. You have to qualify for a court appointed attorney, if you have a job you will be told to attempt to hire one. If you come back without an attorney you need to have at least three names of firms and attorneys that you contacted to represent you and were turned down.
At that time the judge will probably have you fill out a form requesting an attorney and you will be contacted in regards to who it is.
You will get a public defender….then you can stick a fork in to your self because you are done. It,s very hard to fight a DUI if you blew over the limit. Don’t waste your money on a lawyer, just take your beating and try to never do it again…Good Luck to you…Ive been there and it ain’t NO FUN
Not sure you are entitled to one. You probably are, ask the judge to appoint you one, and ask for time to prepare your defense-he will grant you both. Then go to the prosecutor and see if he will give you a reduced charge for a guilty plea. A non moving violation. He does not want ot go to court, and does not want to have to pull the officer in. Because if the officer does not show the case must be dismissed.
If there is a potential for incarceration, and you cannot afford counsel, then the court will appoint counsel when you make your first court appearance. Notice that your ability to afford counsel is determined by the judge, not by you. I have seen people who own houses and cars claim that they want appointed counsel, but the judge refuses because they have equity in the house and can sell a car.
DUI is usually a jailable offense if so you would be entitled to a lawyer. If you make to much money to qualify for court appointed then you may want to invest in research. Go to court one day when they are trying DUI’s. It will probably be on the same day of the week as your DUI trial is set. See what ‘the usual’ sentences are. See if it is across the board for 1st offense. (people with public defender’s, people with private lawyers and people without a lawyer). My bet is that the sentences are all pretty much if not exactly the same.
OH, and quit drinking. There is a solution and you don’t have to live like that.
yes, and go to the courthouse where you are charged, or call the public defender’s office to get details.
duh.
Try http://www.duihelpnow.info