Far too many people charged with a DUI rely upon lawyers with no specialized training or actual experience litigating and defending DUI charges. It is common for people that have no experience with the legal system to believe that a 1st DUI charge will be given a “pass.” It is also common for people to believe that all lawyers can effectively defend a DUI case. These mistaken beliefs cost people dearly. These mistakes result in people needlessly having a DUI conviction on their record for the rest of their lives. Yes, if you are convicted of a DUI in Georgia, that DUI conviction will be on your record for the rest of your life – it will never age off.
If you are in need of a Macon DUI lawyer that truly understands how to deliver results and does not simply rely upon some hope of a “backroom deal” to help you, call us. We fight DUI charges throughout Georgia. We remain on the cutting edge of courtroom strategy in this practice area, and we bring a level of expertise to each of the cases that most lawyers simply cannot match.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR DUI ARREST IN MACON, GA
For most people, one of the most stressful parts of their DUI arrest is the unfamiliarity with the court process. Understanding what will occur after your DUI arrest will alleviate a lot of anxiety, so in this post, we will try to clarify some of what you should expect if your DUI case is pending the Macon-Bibb County State Court.
Where will I be required to appear for court?
If you have been arrested for DUI in Macon-Bibb County, all of hearings in your criminal case will take place at:
J. Taylor Phillips Courthouse
601 Mulberry Street, Room 500
Macon, GA 31201
If you have been arrested for DUI in Macon-Bibb County, your license suspension hearing will also be held in the J. Taylor Phillips Courthouse, but the courtroom changes from time-to-time. When you enter the courthouse and pass through security, ask the deputies where the ALS hearings are being held.
On our site, we have a lot of information about what the administrative license suspension (ALS) hearing is in Georgia and what you should expect at the hearing.
Will I be required to appear for each of my court dates?
If you do not have a lawyer or if you have a lawyer but are still doubtful about whether you are released from appearing court, always appear at every scheduled date. It is inconvenient to appear in court and to take time off work, but missing work and traveling to court are not nearly as inconvenient as sitting in jail without a bond because you have missed court.
That being said, nearly every client that we represent is excused from appearing at their initial court date following being released from jail on bond. From there, most DUI cases proceed to a motions hearing and trial. You must appear (unless specifically released from appearance) at all motions hearings and trial dates.
If you have a lawyer, you are not required to appear at the ALS hearing.
What happens after the arraignment in a DUI case?
Generally, in Macon, the process after the arraignment in your DUI follows this order:
- File motions to suppress/motions in limine/demurrers within 10 days from the date of arraignment;
- Schedule the case for a motions hearing;
- Argue motions in your DUI case; and
- Bench/jury trial.
Board-Certified Macon DUI Lawyer
Ben Sessions is 1 of 4 Board-Certified DUI Defense Attorneys in Georgia, and he is the only lawyer in Macon to have attained this certification.
Your DUI Lawyer’s Reputation Matters
Our commitment to our clients has been recognized through numerous accolades including:
- Inclusion in Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite
- Selection to Georgia’s Super Lawyers® – 2018
- Selection to Georgia’s Super Lawyers® – 2017
- Selection to Georgia’s Super Lawyers® – 2016
- Selection to Georgia’s Super Lawyers® – 2015
- AVVO – Superb (10.0) Rating
Ben Sessions has personally tried in excess of 60 drunk driving jury trials.
We have an exceptional track record of defending DUI charges in Macon, Georgia, and surrounding areas. We have regularly successfully defended blood tests (BAC tests), breathalyzer tests, intoxilyzer tests, breath tests, urine, and refusal cases. And, we are regularly called upon by other lawyers to assist in the defense of complex serious injury by vehicle and vehicular homicide cases.
DUIs in Georgia are criminal charges. However, DUIs, particularly issues related to the appropriateness of the implied consent advisement, your driver’s license, and the driver’s license suspension process are technical, and the knowledge required to defend a DUI is usually outside the scope of what a typical criminal defense attorney may have. Most DUI charges in Georgia are misdemeanors, but depending upon your criminal history and/or whether someone was hurt or killed in connection with a DUI accident, the case may involve felony charges.
What are the Bibb County State Court jury trial weeks for 2022?
If you have a criminal or DUI case pending in the Bibb County State Court, these are critical dates that you must be aware of.
Jury Trial Weeks for 2022 in the Bibb County State Court
Feb. 7th and 14th, 2022
Apr 11th and 18th, 2022
June 13th and 20th, 2022
Aug 15th and 22nd, 2022
Oct 17th and 24th, 2022
Dec 12, 2022
Proven record of success defending DUI Macon cases
If you are looking for a DUI attorney with a proven record of successfully defending DUI charges in Macon, look no further. Sessions & Fleischman has successfully fought all types of DUI charges in Macon, Georgia. We understand what it takes to consistently obtain exceptional results in the defense of DUI cases. Unlike many firms in Macon, we do not spread ourselves too thin. You won’t find us dabbling in real estate transactions, social security, or bankruptcy cases when we are not defending DUI cases. We are highly focused and specialized.
Ben Sessions is the only Board-Certified DUI lawyer in Macon, GA. If you are looking for the very best representation for your pending DUI charge in Macon, GA, call Sessions & Fleischman today. Our Macon, GA office is conveniently located about 100 yards from the Bibb County State Court, which is where most DUI cases made in Macon are prosecuted. From our Macon office, we defend DUI charges in Warner Robins, Perry, Houston County, Byron, Peach County, Dublin, Gray, Jones County, Laurens County, Forsyth and Monroe County, Fort Valley, Griffin, Jeffersonville and Twiggs County, Milledgeville and Baldwin County, Eatonton and Putnam County, and other surrounding areas.
We defend clients facing DUI charges in Probate, Municipal, State, and Superior Courts throughout Middle Georgia.
Does It Seem as Though There Is No Evidence that You Were DUI in Your Case?
Many clients call our office and say that they were arrested and charged with DUI despite there being no “real” evidence that they were driving under the influence. This a very common and legitimate complaint. In this video, Ben Sessions discusses how you defend a DUI charge based upon solely circumstantial evidence (law enforcement’s opinion):
Are all DUI lawyers the same?
Macon, GA is one of several jurisdictions in Georgia that do not reduce unless there is a legal basis for the reduction. This means that in order to obtain a reduction or dismissal of your DUI charge in Macon, GA, your lawyer must be able to show the prosecuting attorney why there is a problem with his/her case. Do not hire any lawyer in Macon, GA that promises you a reduction of your DUI charge based upon his/her relationship with the prosecuting attorney. Any statement to this effect is simply not the truth in this jurisdiction. In order to obtain a reduction or dismissal of DUI charges in Macon, GA, we generally have to conduct what are called motions hearings, and lawyers have to know what they are doing in order to be successful at motions hearings.
We Need to Raise Challenges to The Admissibility of The State’s Evidence in Your DUI Case.
One of the most important aspects of your DUI case is the legal challenges that your DUI attorney should raise to the State’s evidence. Do not hire a DUI lawyer expecting that he/she will only be negotiating a plea or trying your case to a jury. One of the most important aspects of the defense to your case is pre-trial motions hearings. In pre-trial motions, we challenge the State’s ability to introduce DUI field sobriety test and post-arrest DUI tests (blood, breath, or urine tests). It is important to recognize that pre-trial motions must be filed within 10 days from the date of arraignment.
The ONLY Board-Certified Macon DUI Lawyer
Most people do not realize that a lawyer does not need to have any sort of specialized training or certification in order to begin handling DUI cases. A lawyer could graduate from law school, pass the Bar, and take your case a week later. He/she would undoubtedly be incredibly unprepared to actually defend you in the DUI case, but they would be permitted to try to help you. So, how do you know that your DUI lawyer actually knows what he/she is doing? One easy way is to consider only Board-Certified DUI lawyers. Then, you will know that the lawyer has met the rigorous Board Certification requirement established by the National College for DUI Defense. You will know that your DUI lawyer has met the required prerequisite of trials and motions hearings, and you will know that your DUI lawyer has passed the testing requirements to become Board Certified in DUI Defense.
Who is the prosecutor for Macon DUI Cases?
Most DUI arrests in Macon, Georgia are processed into the Bibb County State Court. DUI cases in the Bibb County State Court are prosecuted by the Bibb County Solicitor-General’s Office. The contact information for the Solicitor-General’s Office is:
Room 504, Bibb County Courthouse
601 Mulberry Street
Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 621-6572
Fax: (478) 621-6339
If You Need a DUI Lawyer in Macon, Georgia, Contact Sessions & Fleischman Now.
If you would like to meet with a Board-Certified Macon DUI lawyer, call Sessions & Fleischman at (478) 254-2665. We offer free consultations.
The information provided on this website is purely for informational purposes and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This information is not intended to serve as legal advice.
