The initial appearance before a judge in a criminal district or municipal court case involves the defendant being “arraigned”. At arraignment, the charges against the defendant are read, a lawyer is appointet (if the defendant cannot afford one), and the defendant enters a plea of not guilty or guilty. In some types of criminal proceedings the arraignment can be waived, and thus the defendant and his attorney may not be required to appear in court. There are two types of district/ municipal court cases where an arraignment cannot be waived – DUI/ Physical Control cases and domestic violence related cases; a defendant’s appearance is mandatory. In some circumstances, however, if you have a conflict with the Court date (i.e. out of the country or out of state) your attorney can send in a Motion to Continue the hearing for the Judge to review and possibly grant. Most Courts will continue the arraignment date out 1-2 weeks if good cause is shown for the continuance.

It should go without saying that getting a DUI is very serious, but it is also important to understand that is does not have to be career ending. A DUI can be overcome if dealt with correctly and maturely. Because of the significant implications a DUI arrest and/or conviction can have, it is imperative that a person charged with DUI in Washington State immediately retain a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer or a qualified Bellevue DUI lawyer. In many instances, a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer can significantly reduce the impact that a DUI charge will have on an individual’s life. The right Seattle DUI attorney will be worth his/her weight in gold when protecting a person’s rights, freedom and future. The Seattle DUI attorneys that make up the litigation team of SQ Attorneys are dedicated to defending those accused of drunk driving. They have the experience, knowledge and resources to successfully defend your case. Unlike other law firms that practice in many areas of the law, SQ Attorneys is focused on criminal defense representation with an emphasis on DUI defense in Western Washington.

If you or a loved one is faced with a DUI charge in Western Washington, you deserve the assistance of a reputable and qualified Seattle DUI attorney who will relentlessly defend your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI lawyer who has an intimate understanding of Washington DUI laws and the legal issues that could win your case. You deserve a Seattle DUI defense attorney who is not afraid to stand up against the prosecution and aggressively fight for your rights and interests. SQ Attorneys is the right Western Washington DUI law firm for the job. Call for a free initial consultation – (206) 441.0900 (Seattle); (425) 998-8384 (Eastside) – it will be the best decision you make all day.