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If you are facing DUI charges and this is your first offense, you probably have a lot of questions about the criminal proceedings that will follow. A DUI attorney from Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. in Hamilton, OH, will be more than happy to answer these questions and guide you every step of the way, starting with your arraignment. Here’s what you can expect during your first court appearance: 

After you are released from custody, you will have to return to court and appear before a judge, which is usually scheduled for a few days later. During your initial court appearance (arraignment), you will wait in the courtroom with other individuals who have also been arrested recently. When the judge calls your name, you must approach the podium and confirm all of your information is correct in the file the court has about you.

The judge will then read the DUI atttorneycharges you are facing and state the maximum possible penalties that could result. They will ask if you already have a criminal lawyer and how you are going to plea. If you plead not guilty, the judge will release you, and you can begin discussing a defense strategy with your DUI attorney. If you plead guilty, however, the judge will sentence you at the arraignment, and you will not have the opportunity to present a defense. This is why it’s important to hire an attorney before your arraignment, not afterward.

If you are facing criminal charges for drinking and driving, contact Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. in Hamilton, OH, as soon as possible to discuss your options. Visit the website to learn more about their areas of practice, including estate planning and personal injury, and call (513) 867-1411 to schedule an initial consultation with a DUI attorney today.

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