Below is the ultimate guide to understanding what the court room will look like when you have to appear for Stunt Driving, No Insurance or Drive Suspended Charges.
Step 1 – Line up to check-in with the Prosecutor
When you arrive at court, it is generally based on a “first-come / first-serve” basis. This means that you form a line starting near the prosecutor, and it can run right outside the court room, and sometimes, depending on how busy, right outside the court house. When it is your turn, you approach the prosecutor, and they will give you your options, evidence, etc. Once you are done with the prosecutor, you take a seat in the public area of the courtroom (if available).
Step 2 – The Court Clerk will announce the entrance of the Justice of the Peace
You will be asked to stand up (rise) while the Justice of the Peace enters. Once the Justice sits, you may sit as well.
Step 3 – The prosecutor will begin to call the cases in the order in which they were checked-in.
Generally, licensed legal representatives and all their clients will go first. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to hours, depending on how many clients are represented by these legal professionals. Once the legal reps are done, the Prosecutor will begin to call the individuals in the order in which they checked-in.
Step 4 – Your case is called
You will approach the desk on the opposite side of the prosecutor, and you will be asked to state your name for the court record. The prosecutor will state the information from your case, and depending on what action you are going to take, you will be asked to agree to an adjournment, a trial date, or a guilty plea (you will have discussed this in the lineup when you met with the prosecutor. If you are pleading guilty, it can get a bit tricky, and you will be asked a series of questions by the Justice of the Peace.
Step 5 – Your case has been put on the record, and you can exit the court house.
If you are lucky, you may be out within an hour or two. On busier days, the process can take many hours, even if you are simply adjourning your matter. If you have adjourned your matter, expect to repeat all of these steps the next time you are due in court.
