Criminal Cases And DUI / OVI Cases In The Fairfield County Municipal Court
The Dominy Law Firm is a group of criminal defense lawyers representing clients for criminal offenses and OVI / DUI in the Fairfield County Municipal Court. This page contains information about the Fairfield County Municipal Court. If you are facing a DUI / OVI charge or a criminal charge in this court, you should take the time to educate yourself about your particular offense, as well as the court process you will go through.
Having knowledge in your corner can help make the prospect of going to court a bit less intimidating. Having the right lawyer in your corner can help you as well. To find the right lawyer, you’ll want to research them before making a decision.
Contact Information For The Fairfield County Municipal Court
Address: 104 East Main Street, P.O. Box 2390, Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: 740-687-6621
Website: Fairfield County Municipal Court
Types of Cases Heard In The Fairfield County Municipal Court
The court hears criminal, traffic and civil cases which occur in Fairfield County. For felony offenses, the Municipal Court only handles the initial appearance and preliminary hearings, and then the case is moved to the Common Pleas court. For misdemeanor offenses, the Municipal Court retains jurisdiction for all phases of the case. Some of the common misdemeanor cases heard in this court include:
• DUI/OVI
• Assault
• Domestic Violence
• Theft
Personnel At The Fairfield County Municipal Court
There are two judges in the Fairfield County Municipal Court. The judges are elected individually and operate their courtrooms separately. Each judge has a bailiff who helps them operate the courtroom. The prosecutors are from the Lancaster Law Director’s Office (not the Fairfield County Prosecutor’s Office). The Clerk of Court is the legal custodian of records and also takes payments for fines and court costs. Like the judges, the Clerk of Court office is independently elected, and the office is staffed by multiple deputy clerk.
Court Hours And Procedure
Court sessions start at 8:00 am and go until 12:00 pm, and then resume from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The court is typically in session Monday through Friday, except on holidays and other times as designated by order of the presiding judge.
In misdemeanor criminal cases, including DUI/OVI cases, the court process will start with an arraignment. That first court hearing is when you will enter your plea of guilty/no contest or not guilty. If you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, your case will most likely be finished at the arraignment. If you enter a plea of not guilty, there will be additional court appearances. The next one is a pretrial hearing to negotiate an agreed outcome. If there is no agreement, you may have a motion hearing for the judge to decide legal issues, and you may have a trial for the jury or judge to decide if your guilt was proven. If you are convicted, you will also have a sentencing hearing for the judge to determine the sentence.
Attorney For Clients In The Fairfield County Municipal Court
Most people don’t anticipate being charged with a criminal offense and don’t have experience in the criminal justice system. For those people, it is often wise to hire a lawyer. It is also wise to hire a lawyer who has experience with the type of case you have and who practices in the court where your case is being held.
The Dominy Law firm has experience with essentially all types of criminal cases, including DUI/OVI, and our attorneys practice in the Fairfield County Municipal Court. As you investigate attorneys, you may want to check out the attorney profiles, case outcomes and client ratings on this sit. If you would like to discuss your Fairfield County Municipal Court case, there are two ways to reach us. You can call us at 614-717-1177, or you can submit a CONTACT FORM. Either way, our receptionist will obtain a little information from you and schedule a free phone consultation.