You’ll probably never forget the day you saw those blue and red lights flashing. Your heart started beating fast. You started thinking about where you’d been for the last few hours. You likely talked through the conversation you would have when the officer arrived at your window.
Next thing you knew, there was a police officer at your window asking for your driver’s license. Before you could even grasp what was happening, you were outside of your vehicle, answering questions, perhaps blowing into a breathalyzer, and taking a sobriety test.
These events probably occurred in less than twenty minutes, but it seemed like three hours. The weeks and months that followed seemed like eternity that would never end.
Now your trial is here. You’ve done everything you can to prepare yourself for the best and worst outcomes, and all you can do is wait for the jury to come back with a verdict.
Here’s what you should expect:
Jury Deliberation
After all of the evidence is presented at trial, jury deliberations can begin. During this time, the jurors will discuss the evidence of your case and talk through any questions, comments, or thoughts they may have, as they apply to the law within the confines directed by the judge.
Once a decision has been made, the judge will be notified, and the jury will return a verdict of either guilty, not guilty, or hung.
The Verdict
Once the jury returns, the verdict will be read. At this point, you will know whether or not you’ll be convicted of a DUI.
If you are convicted with DUI, you’ll be sentenced. It’s best to deal with those penalties as quickly as possible so you can move on with your life. You may be facing large court fines, DUI classes, jail, community service, and other court-ordered obligations, and the sooner you start checking things off your list, the quicker your life will get back to normal.
If you are not convicted of DUI, you should thank your attorney. Show sincere gratitude to your legal representative, and promise yourself to be the best driver that you can be. You don’t ever want to find yourself in this position again.
If You’re Found Guilty
Everyone wants to hear the words “not guilty” when they’re on trial in a court of law, but that won’t always be the case. It’s always best to prepare yourself for any verdict if you go to trial. If the jury returns a verdict of ‘guilty’, you may be faced with a number of fines and penalties.
You can prepare ahead of time for an adverse verdict. An experienced attorney can guide you.
The penalties can be severe, and if you don’t have an experienced legal representative by your side, the outcome will probably be much worse.
If you’ve found yourself in need of a lawyer as a result of a DUI, contact Jon Artz by filling out the contact form or call 310-820-1315 today.
You can also learn more about why Mr. Artz is continually recognized as one of the best DUI lawyers in Los Angeles.