Best Business Attorneys in Bowling Green, KY

Quick Reference Guide The purpose of this guide is to provide you, as a client, with answers to many commonly asked questions about what to expect when you go to court. So, hopefully this information will be helpful to you in understanding both our legal system, as well as the way that I normally operate. GET A FREE CONSULTATION

Please bring all paperwork that you received from the jail and/or police. This will assist us in determining how serious your charges are and when you will have court. Also, if you have witness statements those can also be very helpful.

This is your first appearance that you make in front of a judge. The purpose of this hearing is to explain the charges to a defendant. Rarely will anything happen at these hearings other than the entry of a plea of Not Guilty. If you are charged with a traffic violation or a misdemeanor, a pretrial conference will be scheduled. If you are charged with a felony and are still in District Court, the Judge will schedule a Preliminary Hearing.

A preliminary hearing occurs when you have been charged with a felony. They are done in District Court only. The purpose of these hearings is to determine whether there is probable cause to have your case bound over or sent to the Grand Jury. In about 95% of felony cases the judge will find probable cause and then your case will be sent to the Grand Jury for review. If you are in custody, you have the right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days, or 20 days if you are not in custody. In some cases, it is better to waive this hearing.

Discovery is the material that the prosecution will provide to a defendant to show them what evidence they have against them. While this varies greatly from county to county, and even more so in Federal Court, the prosecutors are required to disclose what evidence they have against you. We usually receive discovery after your Arraignment.