DUI,suspended license and misdemeanor marijuana
An arraignment is the first court date in a criminal case. The defendant will be informed of the charges being brought and have an opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty to each charge. The court will also determine whether the defendant is eligible to be released on bond and the amount of such bond. If the defendant pleads guilty, he or she may be sentenced on the spot or at a later sentencing date. Based on my experience, sentencing for a driving while license suspended charge typically occurs on the spot while sentencing for DUI and marijuana charges occur at a later date. This gives the probation department time to prepare a pre-sentence report containing background information about the defendant, including his or her drug and alcohol use, and to make a sentencing recommendation. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the misdemeanor charges will be scheduled for a pre-trial conference. If the DUI is a felony charge, it will be scheduled for a probable cause conference.
