The City of Lynnwood arrests and processes as many, or more, DUI cases as any city its size. Lynnwood Municipal Court is a one court room, one judge jurisdiction. Because of the relatively high volume of criminal and DUI case filings, compared to the resources it expends in so doing, this is a very busy and active court. Anyone facing a DUI charge in Lynnwood should be aware of the policies and procedures in this court and consult with a Lynnwood DUI lawyer experienced with and practiced in this jurisdiction.
LYNNWOOD DUI PROCEDURES
DUI charges are filed directly in to court by the Lynnwood police officer who processes the arrest. That means, whether the individual is taken into custody or released after processing, the initial court date will usually be within the first day or two after the arrest. At the hearing, called an arraignment, the defendant will enter a plea (not guilty in greater than 99% of cases), the judge will impose conditions to be followed while the case is pending and the court will set future court dates.
A person facing a DUI charge in Lynnwood should be aware of the kinds of conditions normally imposed at arraignment. Most of them are standard, such as, show up for court, commit no violations of law, and don’t consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. This court does however, tend to require that bail be posted as a condition of continued release. It is also one of the only courts in Washington to actively require that a defendant show that he has made a good faith effort in acquiring defense counsel, whether public or private. Violation of any of these conditions could mean being taken into custody under the wrong circumstances. In short, if a pretrial condition is ordered in Lynnwood DUI case, follow it. And while that advice is generally true in all courts, it is even more so in this one.
In Lynnwood, the court sets all prospective future dates at once. That means a pretrial date, readiness hearing date and jury trial date will all be set at this time. It is important to remember that even though all of these dates are set simultaneously, only the pretrial hearing is likely to occur as scheduled. At the pretrial date, those other dates are usually rescheduled in accordance with what occurs at the pretrial hearing. They may be continued or even stricken if there is a disposition.
LYNNWOOD DUI JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR
The current sitting judge in the City of Lynnwood has been on the bench for several years. He is as knowledgeable as any judge in the state. He is consistent, straight forward and honest. That means he knows what he is doing, he does things in the same manner most if not all of the time and, if he tells you he wants you to do something, he means it.
The prosecutors from this jurisdiction are independent contractors working for a law firm that has been hired by the City of Lynnwood. This firm represents several smaller jurisdictions in and around Snohomish County, handling prosecuting duties. They, like the judge in this court are extremely knowledgeable and consistent. They handle DUI cases in a very specific way. Knowing in advance how the judge and prosecutor in Lynnwood deal with DUI cases is extremely important in preparing your defense.
LYNNWOOD DUI PROBATION
For those who are convicted of a criminal offense in Lynnwood, whether DUI, some reduced charge or another criminal charge all together, whether or not probation gets actively involved depends on what precisely needs to be monitored. In many jurisdictions, probation will actively monitor anyone who is convicted in that court. In Lynnwood, as a general rule, probation only actively gets involved if there is some affirmative condition imposed by the judge that is not completed at the time of sentencing. To that end, it is imperative for those who wish to avoid active probation to identify the types of conditions the court may impose and then completing those conditions proactively.
Every DUI jurisdiction has its own way of doing things. Knowing the specifics of a particular jurisdiction can go a long way toward the positive resolution of your case. It is no different when facing a DUI in Lynnwood. If you have been charged with DUI in Lynnwood, contact our DUI lawyers for a consultation as soon as possible after arrest or before you go to court.