Ask Me Help Desk - DUI private attorney or not

I was recently cited with a DUI. I was approved for a public defender.

I just got back from my first hearing. I was told to meet the public defender outside the court room 30 minutes prior. I didn't see him until 2 hours after my original time.

During this hearing I was granted ARD for a first offense. I was told I should receive something in the mail regarding a court date sometime in August.

My license will be suspended for 60 days under the ARD requirements. I just finished my master’s degree and I have an internship starting in August. This internship will require me to drive.

I was told my suspension of license won’t start until my next court appearance in August. I feel the public defender didn’t answer any questions. Simply gave me a check list and a business card and sent me on my way.

I would like to have this next court date as soon as possible and serve my suspension ASAP. This would allow me to complete internship.

Long story short... I would like to move court day up so I can start suspension of license ASAP. Will hiring a private attorney help my cause??

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsMarketing

I was recently cited with a DUI. i was approved for a public defender.

I just got back from my first hearing. I was told to meet the public defender outside the court room 30 minutes prior. I didnt see him until 2 hours after my original time.

During this hearing I was granted ARD for a first offense. I was told I should receive something in the mail regarding a court date sometime in August.

My license will be suspended for 60 days under the ARD requirements. I just finished my master’s degree and I have an internship starting in August. This internship will require me to drive.

I was told my suspension of license won’t start until my next court appearance in august. I feel the public defender didn’t answer any questions. Simply gave me a check list and a business card and sent me on my way.

I would like to have this next court date as soon as possible and serve my suspension ASAP. This would allow me to complete internship.

Long story short...I would like to move court day up so i can start suspension of license ASAP. Will hiring a private attorney help my cause?????

No way to know - consult with a private Attorney and if you find the advice favorable discharge the public defender and have the private Attorney represent you.

However - if the Court routine schedules the second appearance that far in advance I doubt a private Attorney can schedule it any more quickly.

The purpose of suspending your license is to teach you a lesson so I don't know how cooperative the Court will be in making things easier for you, employment or no employment. Was anything said about a conditional (back and forth to work) license or will that be handled at the next hearing - or don't you know -?

You are always free to hire a private attorney, we had one in Atlanta that I never knew to lose a DUI case, now he cost over 5000 to just get him to appear for the first hearing.

But in the end, several months between hearings is almost normal and it is hard to say what the court will or will not do

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

No way to know - consult with a private Attorney and if you find the advice favorable discharge the public defender and have the private Attorney represent you.

However - if the Court routine schedules the second appearance that far in advance I doubt a private Attorney can schedule it any more quickly.

The purpose of suspending your license is to teach you a lesson so I don't know how cooperative the Court will be in making things easier for you, employment or no employment. Was anything said about a conditional (back and forth to work) license or will that be handled at the next hearing - or don't you know -?

Not being eligible for a conditional license is part of the stipulation of the ARD program.

Thank you for the advise!