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.
After A Macon DUI Arrest
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?
Most DUI defendants appear before the Honorable Sharell Lewis in the Bibb County State Court. Judge Lewis requires that all criminal defendants appear for the calendar call and, obviously, motion hearings and trial. Since the COVID emergency period has expired, this Court does not conduct remote hearings.
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.
Macon DUI Case Process
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 criminal defense lawyer in Macon to have attained this certification.
Most people do not realize that a lawyer does not need to have any sort of specialized training or certification in DUI law 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.
Macon DUI Attorney With a Proven Record of Success
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.
Our law firm has an exceptional track record of defending driving under the influence (DUI/DWI) 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. From an appeal that originated in Bibb County State Court, we defended the decision excluding evidence of a defendant’s refusal of field sobriety tests from evidence before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court:
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.
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.
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.
