Whether you are heading to the courthouse to enter your initial plea or fight the charges at a hearing, there are some steps you’ll want to take ahead of time to put yourself in the best position to earn a favorable outcome. In today’s blog, we share some tips for how you can successfully prepare for your day in court to increase your odds of be satisfied with the outcome.
Preparing For Court In Minnesota
While every case is unique, in general, there are a few similar steps every person should consider if they want to set themselves up for success once they arrive at court. Here’s everything you’ll want to do in the days, weeks and hours leading up to your court appearance.
1. Talk To A Lawyer – The single best thing you can do to position yourself favorably is to contact a lawyer. It may sound self-serving, but they’ll be able to provide you with expert-level insight into your specific case. They’ll be able to tell you if you have solid ground to stand on or if it’s best you consider pleading to a lesser crime. They can also take over and plan your defense and go to work for you. Even if you don’t end up going with an attorney, taking a free case review before your first appearance or court date is wise.
2. Consider Rehab/Counseling – If an illegal substance played a role in your arrest, consider proactively seeking treatment or substance abuse counseling. Alcohol or drug education courses will likely be ordered by the court if they played a role in your case, so it’s a good idea to start the process before court. Not only does it help you get beneficial resources sooner, but it shows to the court that you are serious about making positive changes in your life, and that’s what they’ll want from this court experience.
3. Make A Plan – Don’t just show up to court without a plan. Even if it’s just your first appearance, know how you plan to plead and be ready when it’s your turn. Find out what is going to happen at this court appearance and prepare as best you can. Again, your lawyer can help with this process if you have one by your side.
4. Dress The Part And Be On Time – You may not get to say much at court, so your appearance will help to send a message for you. You typically won’t need a suit, but business casual is a smart look. Also, make sure that you are at least 10-15 minutes early. Courthouses can be confusing, and even if you accidentally get lost when trying to find your room, that won’t reflect well on your character.
5. Prep Your Schedule – You know when your court date is well in advance, so start making arraignments if you need time off of work or help with your kids. Don’t put it off to the last minute and then drag your kids to court or fail to show because you couldn’t get off work. Get the ball rolling sooner rather than later.
6. Show Respect To The Judge – You might not like being in court, but have a little respect for the system and the judge overseeing your case. Stand when they enter the room and address them as “Your Honor.” Vent to your lawyer or your family, but don’t take out your frustrations on the judge, because it won’t help your case.
If you do these things, you’ll be in a good position to reach a favorable outcome with your case. For help with your criminal case, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today.
