Arlington DWI / DUI Arraignments will be set quickly

From the date of your arrest, an Arraignment in an Arlington DWI cases is set quickly.  Usually, the Court sets the first appearance within 2 weeks of the offense date.  Many times, the date is almost exactly 7 days after your arrest.  Your first court appearance is at 2 pm following your release from jail.  This first appearance is an arraignment.

The Process – Arlington DWI Arraignment

Many people ask me how they should plead at their arraignment in Arlington, Virginia.  People are often in shock when I tell them the judge is not going to ask for a plea at their arraignment.  Two significant things happen at this hearing:  (1) the judge will advise you that if convicted of the charge of DUI / DWI, you will be facing a potential jail sentence; and (2) he or she will advise you of your right to counsel.  If you think you can not afford your own lawyer, the judge will have you fill out paperwork to see if you qualify for court appointed counsel.  Finally, the judge will set your trial date at the conclusion of that hearing.  This date is normally within 45 – 60 days.

Individuals who retain counsel prior to the arraignment hearing can, and most times will, have that hearing waived.  Because you have exercised your right counsel already, the lawyer can submit the appropriate documents to waive the arraignment and set the case directly for trial.  After that, the lawyer will work on getting discovery and preparing the case for trial.