Michigan Drunk Driving Court Process

Question: What is the court process for a drunk driving charge in Michigan?

Answer: Upon your arrest, you will be released via bond and will be required to appear in court at the arraignment, which is the formal reading of the charge. Or in some cases, you may even be arraigned immediately after your arrest from the jail via video or in some cases be transported to the courthouse to go in front of the judge. In either case, the court will ensure that the case moves along its intended course and often much quicker than I would prefer. However, after the arraignment the case is set for a pre-trial, which allows myself or your attorney to meet with the prosecutor to discuss how to proceed or what evidence is outstanding or potentially negotiate a plea or even a sentence. After all the pre-trial efforts have been exhausted, the case would be set for a plea or be set for jury trial where, depending on the particular court, your counsel will select a jury and the trial is settled for a later date or may follow the jury selection itself.

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