How a DUI Case Proceeds in Coweta County Georgia:
Newnan, Ga. - Even in these uncertain times, Coweta County law enforcement officers are still out arresting people for DUI.
Typically, if you are arrested by a Coweta County Sheriff's Deputy or a State Trooper, your case will be set for a first court date, known as an arraignment, several weeks in the future in the State Court of Coweta County. It is the large county courthouse just beyond downtown Newnan. Not much happens at the initial court hearing as typically a “not guilty” plea is entered to allow your Coweta County DUI Lawyer time to receive and review the evidence the preposition has against you. It also allows you and your attorney to decide how to proceed with the case.
If a plea bargain is reached, there are plea calendars available in state court nearly every week. If a motions hearing or trial is needed, these will be scheduled on the next calendar, which is usually 3-4 months in the future. Judges Seay VanPatten Poulakos and Chief Judge Herbert Cranford preside in Coweta State Court. Sandy Wisenbaker is the chief prosecutor for DUI cases and leads an office with several assistant prosecuting attorneys. The misdemeanor prosecutor in Coweta County is called the Solicitor General, and her employee attorneys are called Assistant Solicitors.
In addition to cases that go directly to Coweta County State Court, there are several cities either entirely or partially within Coweta County that have officers that make arrests for DUI. The city of Newnan has its own city court and has a fairly active police force doing traffic enforcement. Grantville, Palmetto, and Senoia also all maintain their own traffic courts and police officers who enforce DUI laws. These city courts are all part-time courts. This means they have their own prospector and judge, but they are courts of limited jurisdiction.
When our Coweta County DUI Attorneys handle cases in municipal court, we attempt to work out a plea bargain with the prosecutors and judges in those courts. However, if you want to contest the charges with a jury trial, the case is transferred to Coweta State Court. This is good news in that you get two bites of the apple in terms of negotiating the case – first in city court and then with a different prosecutor in state court if you are not satisfied with the initial offer.
Generally, Coweta County is conservative and tough on DUI offenders. High fines, jail time, probation, and drivers' license suspensions are the norm. Reductions of charges by the prosecution are rare. But this doesn't mean that cases cannot be negotiated by skilled Coweta County DUI Defense Attorneys or that trials are not won. Attorneys from the Law Office of Lawson & Berry have had DUI cases receive a “not guilty” verdict as well as get reduced to other less serious offenses such as reckless driving. In addition, for tough facts and repeat offenders, our attorneys have been able to get jail time significantly reduced as well as other penalties made much more reasonable.
You are never alone when you call our office. We are here 24/7 because your case doesn't just happen during regular business hours.
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