Essential Guidance for Navigating Criminal Court Attendance
Hi, my name is Aaron Grubb. I’m a Tahlequah criminal defense attorney at Wirth Law Office. In this video, we’re just going to talk about attending criminal cases.
First and foremost, if you do not have an attorney, you always need to attend—no matter what kind of hearing it is. Whether you’re in a busy county like Tulsa or Oklahoma City, or a smaller one like Adair, if you don’t have legal representation, you must show up.
Attendance When You Have an Attorney
However, if you do have an attorney, your required attendance depends more on which county you’re in and which judge you’re in front of. For example, in Tulsa County, you’re definitely going to want to attend as much as possible. If you don’t, the court might set a bench warrant under advisement, meaning they won’t issue it right away.
As long as you attend the next setting, that bench warrant won’t be issued. In a place like Cherokee County, I’ve had several cases where the DA and the judge are okay with the attorney appearing on the client’s behalf. They recognize that if someone has paid for legal representation, they’re likely taking the case seriously.
Importance of Your Presence for Key Hearings
That allows for a little more leeway in terms of scheduling and routine hearings. Still, for important hearings, such as plea agreements or setting a case for trial, the defendant must appear. You might get by without attending less critical settings—like an Allen hearing or a jury sounding docket—where the court is just resetting dates or managing tasks between hearings.
But any serious movement in your case absolutely requires you to be present.
Get Professional Guidance Today
So if you have your own criminal case or a family law case and you want a professional opinion, please contact us here at Wirth Law Office, where we make law easy. Call Tahlequah felony attorney Aaron Grubb today at (918) 458-2677 for a free consultation. Thank you.
