Baldwin County DUI Lawyer - Baldwin County DUI Attorney

Milledgeville DUI Lawyer- Milledgeville DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for DUI in Baldwin County GA, it can be a stressful time.  It can be especially difficult for students at Georgia College & State University.  When a student from GCSU is charged with DUI, it can affect his/her entire life.  We are here to help. Our Milledgeville DUI Lawyers know how to get the best possible results for our clients. It is important to hire Milledgeville DUI Attorneys who are familiar with the court process in Milledgeville Municipal Court and the State Court of Baldwin County.

Richard Lawson is a former DUI Prosecutor with over 25 years' experience fighting for clients throughout Georgia.  He is the most reviewed lawyer in Georgia, with reviews that can be found on Avvo. Put his experience and the experience of his team to work for you. Your future may depend on it.  You have a limited time to act because your driver's license will be suspended unless your Baldwin County DUI Attorney files a 30-day letter on your behalf.

A Baldwin County DUI Case Is Two Cases - The Civil ALS Case And The Criminal Case:

30 Day Warning:

If you have been arrested for DUI, you only have thirty days to protect your privilege to drive. Your Baldwin County DUI Lawyer will appeal your automatic suspension by requesting a hearing with the Department of Driver Services (DDS) or by getting an ignition interlock device installed. The State of Georgia charges a $150 filing fee that must be paid with the hearing request. The request should be made by certified mail, with a return receipt. The request should state whether the accused took the state-administered test or refused.  Unless this hearing or the interlock device is requested, your drivers license will be suspended for as little as 30 days to as much as one year in the event of an alleged refusal.

This process can confuse people because if arrested, you already have a court date.  That is the court date in criminal court.  In Baldwin County, that court is either the State Court of Baldwin County or Milledgeville Municipal Court.  The confusing part is that the civil license case is not automatic.  It must be requested by your attorney.

Since technically driving is not a right, the State can take it without automatically giving a person a hearing.  That is why we have to request and pay for the hearing.  The criminal case happens without request because no person can be found guilty without due process of law. Act now to prevent a driver's license suspension and the consequences thereof.

The Baldwin County Court System Explained

Whether the arrest happened in unincorporated Baldwin County, the city limits of Milledgeville, or on the campuses of Georgia College & State University or Georgia Military College, a DUI arrest can potentially have far-reaching consequences. The penalties can include time in jail, high fines, community service, probation, and the loss of a person's driver's license. Navigating the court process can be confusing, and, as a result, it is important to hire an attorney who regularly practices in the local area. Our Baldwin County DUI Lawyers know the prosecutors and judges that will be making decisions in your case. Our Baldwin County DUI Attorneys will use their experience to help save your license and your future.

Milledgeville Municipal Court:

If you were arrested within the city limits of Milledgeville, your case would be arraigned in the Milledgeville Municipal Court. As with all of Georgia's municipal courts, the court has a limited jurisdiction that includes all misdemeanor traffic offenses, traffic tickets, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, and of course, DUI. There are no Jury trials in any municipal court. If your Milledgeville DUI Lawyer believes that a jury trial is needed in your case, the case will be sent to the State Court of Baldwin County.

In municipal court (city court), your Milledgeville DUI Attorney will have an opportunity to negotiate with the solicitor (prosecutor) with the goal of achieving a non-DUI outcome in the case. Your case will have to be investigated thoroughly because no prosecutor will simply dismiss a case because you are a nice person, or it is the first offense.  There must be a legal or factual reason to support a reduction of the charges or a dismissal.

The Milledgeville Municipal Court is located at 125 West McIntosh Street Milledgeville, GA 31061. The presiding judge is the Honorable David McRee. The solicitor (prosecutor) is Carl Cansino.  His job is to represent the police officers in his jurisdiction. Always remember he is not the attorney for the accused. You have to hire your own Milledgeville DUI Attorney, and otherwise, anything said to him can and will be used against you in the prosecution of your case.

For more information about your court date and to answer general questions, you can call the City Clerk, Ms. Lisa Brooks or the deputy Vickie Waller. They can be reached at 478-414-4004 and 478-414-4077. They handle processing the cases and reporting the outcome of each case to the State and the Department of Driver Services. They are not lawyers and cannot give you legal advice. Court is held at 8:00 a.m. every Wednesday. For more information visit the Milledgeville Municipal Court website.

Map to Milledgeville Municipal Court

Baldwin County State Court

If you were arrested in the unincorporated parts of Baldwin County, your case would be heard in State Court. The state court has exclusive jurisdiction of all misdemeanor cases in Baldwin County (except cases resolved in municipal court).  All misdemeanor jury trials are heard in state court. There are no jury trials in municipal court.

In Baldwin County State Court, you can either negotiate a plea with the prosecutor or litigate the case with either a bench trial (trial by judge) or a jury trial.  All jury trials are presided by the judge and have juries of 6 people who live in the county.

Baldwin County State Court is held at Baldwin County Courthouse, located at 121 North Wilkinson Milledgeville, GA 31061.  The Chief State Court Judge is the Honorable Alan Wayne Thrower. His office telephone number is 478-452-5442. Remember a judge cannot speak to you about your case and cannot speak to any party to any litigation without all of the parties present.

The Solicitor General (prosecutor) is Maxine Blackwell.  Her office is Suite 313 of the Baldwin County Courthouse.  Her phone number is 478-445-4445.  She is the chief prosecuting officer for all misdemeanor cases in Baldwin County.  She is also responsible for prosecuting all misdemeanor traffic offenses, DUI, shoplifting, and domestic violence. For more information visit the Baldwin County Georgia website.

Map to Baldwin County State Court:

Baldwin County Superior Court:

All felony DUI cases are heard in the Baldwin County Superior Court.  In Georgia, the Superior Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over all felony cases.  In the DUI realm, Felony DUI cases include Fourth Lifetime DUI cases, Habitual Violator, Vehicular Homicide, and Serious Injury by Vehicle. The chief prosecuting official of Baldwin County is the District Attorney.  The District Attorney is Frederic D. Bright.  His office is located in the Baldwin County Courthouse in Suite 305.  His telephone number is 478-445-5261.  He handles prosecuting cases throughout the eight-county Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. The counties in the circuit include Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam, & Wilkinson.

The Superior Court Judges of Baldwin County are also part of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit.  As circuit judges, they must appear in more than one county and may not always be available.  The Superior Court Judges are:

Judge E. Trenton Brown III
Monticello, GA
Phone: 706-468-4906
Fax: 706-468-4929

Judge James L. Cline, Jr.
Eatonton, GA
Phone: 706-485-7530
Fax: 706-485-7549

Judge Hulane E. George
Milledgeville, GA
Phone: 478-445-4270
Fax: 478-445-2622

Chief Judge William A. Prior Jr.
Madison, GA
Phone: 706-342-0672
Fax: 706-342-3730

Judge Hugh V. Wingfield, III
Gray, GA
Phone: 478-986-6501
Fax: 478-986-3549

The Clerk of Superior Court is the Honorable Rosemary Fordham Phillips.  Her office is in Suite 209 at the Baldwin County Courthouse.  Her telephone numbers are 478-445-6324 and 478-445-1649. Her office handles reporting the result of your case to the State of Georgia and the Department of Driver Services.  She is also responsible for keeping a permanent record of all proceedings in court. She and her staff are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.  You need to hire your own DUI Lawyer in Baldwin County.

Map to Baldwin County Superior Court:

There Is Hope If Charged With DUI In Baldwin County:

People ask us every day if there is hope, or is there something that can be done about their case? The short answer is yes.  For first offenses, we can keep a person driving and out of jail.  Many times we can get a case reduced to a lesser offense such as reckless driving.  However, your case will not defend itself.  There are things your attorney must do to protect your rights.  You only have thirty days to protect your driver's license. We are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  That includes weekends and holidays.  Call now!

Baldwin County GA DUI Resources:

Baldwin County Wikipedia

Eighth Judicial Administrative District

Baldwin County Government Website

Baldwin County Sheriff's Office

City of Milledgeville Official Website

Milledgeville Police Department

Have You Been Arrested for DUI in Baldwin County Georgia?