Drandell, Harry:
When a grand jury is impaneled to investigate criminal activity, one member of the grand jury is selected as a foreman. The foreman is responsible for presiding over the grand jury. A quorum is necessary for the grand jury to proceed. Nine grand jurors is the minimum for a quorum when there are 12 grand jurors. If the grand jury acts without a quorum, the proceedings are void. Any indictment that is issued by the grand jury without a quorum is subject to being dismissed or quashed.
Martin, Daniel:
If you have been arrested and charged with drunk driving in the Central Valley in California, you are probably scared and embarrassed and wondering how the charge will affect your ability to drive or to work. You may feel like you have no choice but to plead guilty. At a time like this, you need an attorney who understands your situation, who cares about you and who won't treat you like just another DUI case.
Cindy Hopper:
If you have been charged with a DUI or traffic violation, you are facing possible jail time, fines, and a loss of your license.
Page & Page:
Serious legal problems require immediate intervention from an attorney who knows how to protect your rights in California criminal defense and criminal appeals.
Michael McGinnis:
California courts treat drunk driving seriously. When you have been charged with drunk driving, the best course of action is to hire a DUI attorney who knows California DUI law. A DUI conviction can lead to serious consequences including jail time. If you drive for a living, getting a DUI can also affect your professional licensure, your job, and your income.
Jeffrey Hammerscmidt:
When you have been arrested for DUI/DWI, you are facing serious criminal charges. A conviction for DUI/DWI can result in a loss of driving privileges, social embarrassment, loss of employment opportunities, and even jail or prison. Serious criminal matters require the attention of an experienced criminal defense attorney who is dedicated to protecting your future.
You should take these charges seriously, but do not panic.
Hristo Bijev
Most California criminal defense lawyers donÕt understand how a criminal conviction can affect immigration status. Even if it is only a misdemeanor conviction and you do no jail time, a criminalÊconviction of any kind on your record could lead to problems with immigration when you apply for permanent U.S. residency or citizenship.Ê
Michael Mitchell:
You were arrested and charged with DUI or felony drunk driving. It seems as if all the evidence is
against you, so the question you’re asking now is… why should I call a Fresno
DUI lawyer?
You should contact a DUI
attorney immediately for two reasons:
The evidence may not be as clear as you
think it is. A thorough review of the facts by an experienced attorney could turn your case
around.
A knowledgeable Fresno DUI lawyer may be able to help you get a better
outcome than you would have without legal help.
Terry Wapner:
Often, it begins when the DUI officer pulls the suspect over for an alleged traffic violation such as speeding, weaving, running a stop sign, or some sort of vehicle defect. The DUI officer claims that when he gets face to face with the suspect, he immediately notices ãobjective symptoms of intoxication." These include an odor of alcoholic beverage on the suspect's breath, watery and bloodshot eyes, and thick and slurred speech. The suspect often admits to having consumed some alcohol that day or evening.
The officer therefore begins a "DUI investigation." He tells the suspect to step out of the vehicle and perform a series of field sobriety tests (FSTâs). He may have the DUI suspect blow into a handheld machine (called a PAS device), which gives a preliminary estimate of the suspect's blood alcohol level. The DUI officer is supposed to inform the suspect that taking the "PAS test" is voluntary, and not mandatory. But in reality, few officers really inform their suspects of this. Moreover, unbeknownst to most citizens pulled over for DUI, the FSTâs are voluntary, and not mandatory, as well.
The DUI officer claims the suspect "performed poorly" on the FSTâs. Furthermore, the PAS reading indicates the suspect may be above the legal limit. Based on this, the DUI officer "forms the opinion" that (1) the suspect is under the influence and (2) the suspect's ability to drive a motor vehicle safely is impaired. So the officer arrests the suspect for DUI, and takes him/her to the police station (or hospital) for a chemical test. Some counties are using the newer machines and are able to perform the breath test at the scene.
The DUI suspect chooses between a breath test, blood test, or urine test (if the officer suspects drugs). Under California's "Implied Consent Law," someone lawfully arrested for DUI must submit to one of these tests. Refusal to do so can subject the arrestee to stiffer court penalties and possibly a one-year (or longer) drivers license suspension.
If the DUI suspect selects a blood test, the blood sample is forwarded to a crime lab for analysis. The result won't be known for several days. If a breath test is chosen, the officer sees the BAC reading immediately after the suspect blows twice into the machine. Sometimes the officer informs the suspect of the result, sometimes not.
Following the blood or breath test, the DUI suspect is booked and later released - either on bail or a written promise to appear in court on a future specified date. The arresting officer completes his police report and forwards it to the prosecutor's office for review. The prosecutor will decide what criminal charges, if any, to file.
Robert Angres:
When you are arrested for a DUI in California, you should be able to
delay the automatic license suspension from occurring 30 days from your
arrest. You should call 415-557-1170 (San Francisco Driver Safety
Office) within ten days of your arrest and ask for an administrative
per se hearing. Also ask for a stay on your license suspension. The DMV
will grant you the stay and send you a temporary license. By exercising
this statutory right, you should be able to drive legally until the
date of your hearing, which is usually several months after your
arrest. If you prefer, retain our firm within that ten-day window, and
we will make all the necessary arrangements associated with temporarily
preserving your driving privilege. We will then appear at your hearing
and fight to have the impending suspension lifted.
Christopher Caine:
If you have been charged with a crime, the assistance of an experienced
and caring attorney is vital, especially during this stressful time.
Armas & Torigian:
If you have been accused of a crime, you probably have several questions:
Do I need an lawyer?
What am I charged with?
Am I going to jail?
If so, will I be released from jail?
Will I need cash to post my bail?
When do I go to court?
Steven Cummings:
If you have been charged with a crime for the first time, such as DUI
or an alcohol-related offense, you may be apprehensive and confused
about what your rights are or what you should do next.
James Wasson:
DUI. Many experience feelings of guilt and shame. Many
feel that their case is hopeless and they just want to plead guilty and
"take their medicine."
Before
reaching the decision of whether to plead guilty or defend a case,
there are a few things anyone facing this decision should consider.
A
DUI conviction is a criminal conviction that remains on a person's
criminal record forever. The "costs" of a conviction include, but are
not limited to:
Increased automobile insurance costs, five years in most cases;
Job opportunity implications-many employers are now denying employment to persons with alcohol related driving convictions;
Restricted or no driving privileges;
Facing multiple offense sanctions if convicted again; and
If a licensed professional or a college student, loss of professional license and/or disciplinary action by the school.
Placing
a monetary value on the above factors depends on each person's
particular circumstances, but suffice it to say that the decision to
defend a case or plead guilty should only be reached after careful
evaluation of all the potential consequences of a conviction.
Boating While Intoxicated: BWI = DWI
If you are charged with boating while intoxicated (BWI), you need to understand that these charges are just as serious as drunk-driving charges, with the same fines, license suspensions, increased auto insurance rates, and jail time. You can not afford not to fight these charges. If you were pulled over for a routine harbor and navigation code violation and charged with drunk boating, we will defend you. We also defend clients charged with DWI or DUI while operating recreational vehicles.
Falk & Associates:
Many people have entered guilty pleas in DUI cases without realizing
that they are giving up valuable legal rights, and that various legal
defenses may be available to them. The prosecutor must prove a DUI
beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt. The breath
machine might have been in error, and the results could be challenged.
The circumstances of the arrest might also be subject to legal attack.