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BECAUSE
THIS MAY BE THE
FIRST TIME you
have ever been required
to appear in court,
please review the
following information
as to procedure
and your rights:
YOU
HAVE THE RIGHT to be represented by a lawyer and may have your
case continued to a later date in order to prepare a proper defense.
You are not required to employ a lawyer in order to make a defense,
unless the offense carries potential jail time.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, you should step forward. If you
require a continuance, you should request it at that time, otherwise
the charge will be read to you and you will be asked how you plead.
You must plead either guilty, not guilty or no contest.
DO NOT HESITATE to
plead not guilty
if you believe
that is the case.
If you plead no
contest, the court
may allow you
to explain any
unusual circumstances
which you believe
are in your favor.
Pleas of guilty
and no contest
will be accepted
as the docket
is called and
disposition of
those cases will
be made when such
a plea is entered.
THOSE CASES in which pleas of not guilty are entered, will
be set for disposition or trial at a later date. There are no additional
costs for a continuance.
YOU ARE PRESUMED
INNOCENT until
proven guilty
and the burden
of proving your
guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt
is on the city.
You may testify
in your own defense,
or you may refuse
to testify.
YOU MAY CALL witnesses
in your defense
and, if necessary,
by giving their
names and addresses
to the clerk of
the court, compel
their attendance
by subpoena.
YOU ARE ENTITLED to
cross-examine
any witnesses
who may testify
against you. You
have the right
to appeal to the
district court
of this county
if you are found
guilty after a
plea of not guilty.
NO PERSON, regardless of his financial, social or political
standing will be treated differently from any other person. To grant
special privileges would be contrary to our American concept of equality.
UNDER THE LAW of
this State, if
you are convicted,
enter a plea of
guilty, or forfeit
bond to a moving
traffic violation,
such must be reported
to the state.
IN TRAFFIC
CASES, the
objective of this
court is to reduce
the number of
accidents and
injuries and to
make our streets
safer.
CAREFUL DRIVING is
our daily responsibility
and hopefully
all can benefit
from attendance
in this court
regardless of
the disposition
made in any particular
case.
JUVENILE:
Parent or guardian
must accompany
you when you appear
in court.
PLEAS:
GUILTY: Having
committed a
breach of conduct;
justly liable
to or deserving
of a penalty;
suggesting or
involving guilt; aware
of or suffering from
guilt. Disposition
of case will be made.
NOT
GUILTY: Case
will be set
for disposition
docket, to be
held once a
month.
NO
CONTEST: Without
admitting guilt
subjects defendant
to conviction,
but does not
preclude him
from denying
the truth of
the charges
in a collateral
proceeding.
DISPOSITION
DOCKET: Pleas
of not guilty.
Defendant will
talk with the
City attorney
about the specifics
of the case. If
no agreement
is reached,
the judge will
set case for
trial, to be
held at a later
date.
JUDGE'S TRIAL: Case
will be heard
by judge. You
may call witnesses
in your defense,
by giving necessary
information
to the clerk
of the court.
JURY TRIAL: A
jury is called
to hear the
case, and find
defendant guilty
or not guilty.
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