Criminal Cases And DUI / OVI Cases In The Westerville Mayor’s Court
The Dominy Law Firm is a firm of criminal defense lawyers representing clients in the Westerville Mayor’s Court for DUI / OVI and criminal offenses. This website page provides you with information regarding cases in that court. If you were charged with a crime or OVI / DUI in Westerville, Ohio, it will be beneficial to read through the information on this page and throughout this website. Before hiring a lawyer or attending the first court appearance in Westerville Mayor’s Court, you can educate yourself about your situation so you can make a informed choices about handling your case and hiring an attorney.
For More Information About The Westerville Mayor’s Court
Address: 21 South State Street, Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: (614) 901-6419
Website: Westerville Mayor’s Court
Types Of Cases Heard In The Westerville Mayor’s Court
The Westerville Mayor’s Court has jurisdiction over first-offense DUI / OVI cases and misdemeanor criminal cases that occur within the city of Westerville, Ohio. Types of cases heard in this court include:
• Assault
• Domestic Violence
• DUI / OVI
• Drug crimes
• Shoplifting
• Underage Drinking
Westerville Mayor’s Court Judges And Prosecutors
The judicial officer in the Westerville Mayor’s Court is actually considered a magistrate instead of a judge. The magistrate is either a retired judge or local attorney. The prosecutors in the Westerville Mayor’s Court are attorneys with the law firm of Metz, Bailey & McLoughlin. If a case is transferred to a Municipal Court, the prosecutor depends on the Municipal Court to which the case is transferred. If the case is moved to the Delaware County Municipal Court, the Delaware City Prosecutor’s Office handles the case. If a case is moved to the Franklin County Municipal Court, an attorney from Metz, Bailey & McLoughlin will follow the case and be the prosecutor in the Municipal Court.
Court Process In The Westerville Mayor’s Court
Criminal cases and DU / OVI cases begin with a complaint being filed (the traffic ticket is the complaint in DUI / OVI cases). When the complaint is filed, you will be summoned to appear at the arraignment (typically held at 9:00 am on Wednesdays), where you will have the choice of entering a guilty plea, a no contest plea, or a not guilty plea. Assuming you enter a plea of not guilty, the next step is to exchange evidence (discovery) with the prosecutor.
The next hearing will be a pretrial hearing (also typically held on Wednesdays at 9:00), which is an opportunity to discuss the case with the prosecutor and negotiate a plea agreement. If no plea agreement is reached, a trial will be scheduled. Before the trial, there may be a motion hearing where the magistrate makes decisions about disputed legal issues.
If there is still no plea agreement, a trial will be held (typically on Wednesdays at 10:00). There are no jury trials in the Westerville Mayor’s Court, so the person deciding whether you are guilty or not guilty is the magistrate. If you are found guilty of an offense, or if you plead guilty to an offense, the magistrate will hold a sentence hearing to impose the sentence. The sentence hearing may be combined with one of the other hearings, or it may be held separately.
Transferring A Case Out Of The Westerville Mayor’s Court
Ohio law gives you the right for your case to be heard in a ‘court of record’. The Westerville Mayor’s Court is not a ‘court of record’, so you do have the right to transfer your case to a ‘court of record’. In addition, you can also appeal the decision reached in the Westerville Mayor’s Court. If you choose to appeal or transfer the case, your case begins again in a Municipal Court. If the offense allegedly occurred in Franklin County, the case is transferred to the Franklin County Municipal Court. If the offense allegedly occurred in Delaware County, the case is transferred to the Delaware County Municipal Court. Transferring a case to a Municipal court is a significant decision, so it would be beneficial to talk with a knowledgeable lawyer regarding that decision.
Attorney For Criminal And DUI/OVI Cases In The Westerville Mayor’s Court
It would be wise to decide, before you go to court, whether you intend to enter a quick guilty plea and finish the case or plead not guilty and contest the case. It’s also a good idea to determine whether you are going to hire a lawyer and select the attorney to represent you. If you are going to hire a lawyer, it’s prudent to find a lawyer with experience in the Westerville Mayor’s Court and expertise in the type of case you are facing.
The Dominy law firm regularly represents clients in the Westerville Mayor’s Court and has expertise in DUI/OVI and criminal cases. If you would like more information about our firm, you may want to read the About Us page of this site. This site also contains pages with client reviews and case results. We limit the number of clients we accept so we can provide outstanding service to each client. If you would like to discuss your Westerville Mayor’s Court case, please call 614-717-1177 or submit a CONTACT FORM to arrange a free consultation.