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Jackson Drunk Driving Lawyers

• Brandt & Dehncke: The best advice any criminal defense attorney can provide to their client is that, at no time should they ever undertake an interview with law enforcement officials without the presence of counsel.
  
  Criminal procedure in the State of Michigan usually is initiated by the arrest of a defendant. If that defendant is arrested on a felony charge, they are to be immediately brought before a District Court Judge or Magistrate for an arraignment. At this arraignment, the defendant is to be told what he or she is charged with, the maximum possible penalty and to have the arraigning Judge or Magistrate set a bond. The defendant is free at the arraignment to stand mute, enter a plea of not guilty or plead guilty. However, it is extremely rare for an arraigning District Court Judge or Magistrate to accept a defendant's plea of guilty to a felony charge at their arraignment. Rather, the case is typically set for a preliminary examination conference and preliminary examination.
  
  It is also during the arraignment that a defendant is told of their right to have an attorney. Given the consequences of possible prison sentence, it is imperative that a defendant immediately contact a competent criminal defense attorney to evaluate the charges against them. This contact should take place prior to the preliminary examination conference.
  
  A preliminary examination conference is a scheduled meeting whereby the defendant's attorney will meet with the prosecuting attorney to evaluate the merits of the case against the defendant and to see if the case can be resolved. Usually a competent criminal defense attorney will explore areas of possible plea agreements at this point. If the prosecuting attorney and defense counsel cannot reach an agreement, the case will then proceed to a preliminary examination.
• Thomas Wilson: Michigan has tough drunk driving laws and penalties. Laws aimed at discouraging and punishing those who drink and then choose to operate a motor vehicle get stricter every year. Every person who operates a motor vehicle on a public road or highway impliedly consents to being tested for the presence of alcohol or drugs in their body. It is now also illegal to operate a watercraft or snowmobile after consuming alcohol or drugs.