If something major comes up or you put the wrong date in your calendar, it’s completely possible that you end up missing your scheduled court date. While this isn’t ideal, it’s also not a huge deal so long as you take some simple steps in the wake of your missed appearance. In today’s blog, we explain what you should do if you accidentally miss your scheduled court appearance.
What Happens If I Miss Court?
Missing court isn’t the end of the world, even if it was a mandatory appearance, but you need to be proactive afterwards so that problems don’t snowball. Let’s first take a look at what might happen in the courtroom if you miss a scheduled appearance:
1. Rescheduled – It’s possible that the judge will simply set a new court date for your case and work to inform you of this new date, but that’s very unlikely, especially if there is no communication on your end. Don’t expect that you’ll just get a free do-over if you miss court.
2. Bench Warrant Issued – The judge may issue a bench warrant, meaning that you will be taken into custody if you are pulled over or visited by police. Sometimes you can get this warrant lifted by paying a bail amount and having a new court date issued.
3. Bail Revoked – A bench warrant may be issued and your option for bail may be revoked, meaning the only way to resolve the warrant is to turn yourself in.
You may also face additional penalties if the bench warrant is not resolved in a set time period. For example, if you were supposed to attend court for a reckless driving charge, the DMV may send you a notice that your driver’s license will be suspended if the bench warrant for your traffic case is not resolved by a specific date.
What To Do After Missing Court
If you end up missing your mandatory court date, here’s what you’ll want to do.
1. Contact Your Lawyer – Your lawyer will likely be aware that you missed court, but if you don’t have a lawyer, now is the time to get one. Let them know what charges you’re facing and that you accidentally missed your court date. They can work on resolving any bench warrant with the court. They may also provide advice on what you should do if bail is not offered and you need to turn yourself in to resolve the warrant.
2. Don’t Ignore It – Much like an unpaid parking ticket, the issue won’t go away on its own unless you do something about it. Don’t just assume that the court will be unaware that you missed court, because that simply won’t happen. They’ll know, and the consequences for your actions may get more severe unless you face the music. Take a deep breath, talk with your lawyer and decide what the best proactive next step is.
3. Act Quickly – Finally, don’t wait days or weeks to connect with a lawyer or the courthouse about your missed appearance. The sooner you try to resolve matters, the more likely it is that the court will be lenient with you. As soon as you realize you missed court, get the ball rolling on resolving the issue.
Also, if you realize you’re going to miss court, reach out to your lawyer or the court. Don’t just wait until after you’ve missed court to call and tell them that you had to work. Be proactive ahead of time, try to make arraignments so that you don’t miss court, and reach out as soon as it becomes apparent that you aren’t going to make it. Having to work or being unable to find childcare won’t give you a pass to miss court, but expressing these concerns ahead of time can prevent headaches after a missed appearance.
If you want to work with a lawyer who can show up to court on your behalf and put together a strong defense, look no further than the team at Appelman Law Firm. Let us go to bat for you so that missed appearances aren’t a concern. For more information, or for help with a specific criminal matter, reach out to our team today at (952) 224-2277.
