Your first day in court is called an arraignment. This proceeding is often referred to as a simple formality given that the exclusive purpose of this proceeding is to enter a plea of "guilty" or "not guilty". Your California criminal defense attorney can appear on your behalf pursuant to California Penal Code section 977a if you have been charged with a misdemeanor crime. Your defense lawyer will then collect "discovery" from the prosecutor. This discovery will include the police report and/or police narrative, as well as the complaint specifically alleging the charges against you. You're California criminal defense attorney will then proceed to review the documents after the arraignment. He will be looking for any factual grounds that could support a dismissal reduction of the charge, including any mitigating circumstances, fax that indicate your lack of involvement or participation in the crime, any discrepant statements by police or other witnesses accusing you and any other information that could help support your defense.
In a California traffic arraignment, you will be given the option of entering a plea of not guilty and setting the matter for trial. Many people choose to set the matter for a trial in the hopes of cops not showing up. Increasingly, however, the police officer who pulled you over will be present. Our California criminal offense attorneys can appear on your behalf in a traffic arraignment and file a trial by declaration. We have been extremely successful at trial by declaration because our award-winning defense attorneys are extremely adept legal writers. This is much better than leaving it up to chance as to whether the police officer in your case will or will not show up. By filing a successful trial by declaration, we can put your defense in the "drivers seat."
Call us now if you or a loved one requires representation in a California criminal matter or California traffic matter. Toll-free: 626-827-7222
