Winning Your Municipal Court Case

There are several factors that can greatly influence your chances of being successful in Municipal Court.

GET ALL YOUR RECORDS

First, make sure you have all of the official records that pertain to your matter.  This is called your discovery.  In addition to the testimony of police officers, witnesses, or the complainant, the discovery will be what the Prosecutor will use to try to convince the Court of your guilt.  The sooner you request and receive your discovery from the Prosecutor or the Police Department, the better prepared you will be when it is time to appear in Court.

CONFIRM YOU COURT DATE

Sounds simply, right?  You might be surprised at how many defendants fail to appear for the Court date, and have warrants for their arrest issued as a result.  Don't be that person.  If the address on your driver's license isn't your current address, make sure you notify the Court of your correct address so that you receive the Court notices they are sending out.  Court dates are often changed, and you need to know this.

KNOW THE LAW OF YOUR CASE

Make sure you've researched the law surrounding the facts of your case, so you are prepared to present to the Court why it is that you should be acquitted.  The Prosecutor will be well-versed in this, so you need to be ready.  If your case presents a novel legal issue, this will be an opportunity for you to argue as to why certain other cases that were previously decided tend to help you in your case, even though your issue is different.  Essentially you could be arguing for an extension of a law to include the facts relevant to your case.

BE COURTEOUS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED

The Golden Rule applies here.  Our court system is adversarial in nature, but that does not mean that you should treat people discourteously.  Understand that everyone has a part to play, from the Judge to the Prosecutor to the Court Staff to the Police Officer to the other party.  Nobody especially wants to be there and everyone could be spending their time more productively.  Treating the people you come into contact with courteously and respectfully, even when you disagree on very important matters, will go a long way to help achieve the best result possible.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, HIRE AN ATTORNEY

Only an attorney-at-law who is well versed in the court system and the law can provide you with the best possible chance of obtaining a good outcome.  There are myriad rules of evidence, rules of procedure, caselaw and statutes which govern every case.  It is almost impossible for an unrepresented person to navigate these waters as well as an attorney (well, most attorneys!).  If you can afford to hire an attorney, do so.  If you truly cannot afford to hire an attorney, the Court may be able to appoint a Public Defender to represent you at little to no cost.  And yes, a Public Defender is often a very good attorney -- although they are usually forced to handle dozens and dozens of cases each court session, and may not be able to give you the same devoted attention as a private attorney.

We are here to help.  Feel free to call Chris for a free consultation, (856) 218-7070.