Is Your Firm Still Taking All Types Of Cases? And If So, How Are You Able To Do That?
We are still open and operational, just like we were before this pandemic. We are reachable through our website, via phone call or video call, and through text. We have been very good at communicating with everyone as well as being able to answer all their questions and their concerns as they come up. We may not able to meet in-person due to shelter-in-place orders, but we are able to set up remote meetings. It appears that in person meetings will be allowed very soon. Clients should feel free to contact our office to communicate and set up meetings.
What Is Happening With The Courts In Your Region For Both New And Cases That Were Already Ongoing?
Each county’s Superior Court has treated things slightly different, so it has been difficult to keep up. All Bay Area counties’ Superior Courts are operating under emergency orders and the judicial council has promulgated new emergency rules that affect every single courthouse. People are still getting arrested and in-custody arraignments are still occurring in all counties that we practice in. San Francisco began conducting felony preliminary hearings on Monday, April 27th. San Mateo and Alameda have been conducting in-custody preliminary hearings for weeks. There are certainly proceedings still occurring but they are limited and mostly in-custody matters. Trials were stayed throughout the state through May 23, 2020.
If I’m Facing New Criminal Charges, Is It Best To Wait Until Everything Reopens And Life Resumes Or Should I Hire An Attorney Now?
It may very well best to hire an attorney now, so your attorney can start working on your case right away. There is always evidence that needs to be preserved, witnesses who need to be spoken to, and the prosecution is not going to go away. All the district attorney’s offices are waiting to be able to start filing cases again, so you should strongly consider hiring attorney at this point. Our office will give you an honest assessment on whether it’s advantageous at this point to hire an attorney or not.
Are There Any Time-Sensitive Things That Must Be Dealt With In DUI Cases, Whether The Physical Courthouses Are Shutdown Or Not?
In DUI cases, the administrative hearing (Administrative Per Se or APS) still needs to be reserved within 10 days of the arrest. The administrative hearing is separate from the superior court criminal proceeding. If you do not request a hearing within 10 days of the arrest, you will not have a hearing to contest the suspension and your license will be suspended automatically on the 30th day from the arrest.
For more information on COVID-19 Office Procedures, an immediate case consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (415) 484-0906 today.
