If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ve probably seen that we’ve been covering the story of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, who was arrested and charged with DWI after being found asleep at the wheel during the offseason in California. Addison’s arraignment was originally scheduled for last Tuesday, but it was recently postponed to December 3rd.
The court system doesn’t move all that swiftly, so if the arraignment isn’t scheduled until early December, there is a very high likelihood that if Addison chooses to contest the charge, any verdict would not be rendered until after the completion of this NFL season. Given that the Vikings are undefeated and in a great position to make a run deep into the playoffs, it stands to reason that both Addison and the team would prefer that the case gets pushed back until after the season ends.
This is especially true when you consider that the NFL’s disciplinary policy regarding drinking and driving requires that these types of cases go through the legal system before the league puts forth any discipline of its own. We’ve seen instances where a team may impose their own suspension or similar discipline for this type of criminal issue, but when it comes to DUIs, the league waits until the player or coach has had their day in court before they lay down any punishment of their own. This means that as long as Addison doesn’t plead guilty at the arraignment, it’s almost a certainty that he will not face any suspension from the league during the 2024-25 season.
What Is An Arraignment?
An arraignment is a court session in which the judge formally reads the charges against a defendant. Once the charges are read, you are officially considered to be charged with the crime. After the charges have been read, the defendant will enter a plea or remain silent. If the defendant remains silent, it will be considered a not guilty plea. The judge will then set a schedule for the next court dates and may set bail conditions given the charges. If the judge ordered Addison to remain jailed unless bail was posted, which seems unlikely for a DUI, Addison could then post bail himself or hire a bail bond company to post bail on his behalf for a fee.
We’ll keep tabs on Addison’s DUI case as it proceeds, but it seems likely that it will be a legal matter that is wrapped up between February and May with little fanfare. However it concludes, hopefully Addison gets the help he needs to make better choices going forward, as he’s been a subject on our blog for more than just his DUI arrest.
And if you or someone you know needs assistance fighting a DUI or traffic charge of their own, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm. Give our firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
