OVI / DUI Lawyer For Gahanna, Ohio

The Dominy Law firm represents clients for Gahanna, Ohio DUI / OVI.  DUI/OVI laws in the Gahanna area are enforced by three law enforcement agencies:  Gahanna Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.  Depending on which police department issued the ticket, the geographic location of the incident, and the driving history of the person being charged, DUI/OVI tickets in Gahanna may be heard in either the Gahanna Mayor’s Court or the Franklin County Municipal Court.

Whether you have to go to court in Gahanna or you are a Gahanna resident with a DUI/OVI case elsewhere in central Ohio, you probably have questions about your DUI/OVI case.  You may be wondering about the potential sentences, the court process, and what defenses area available.  You may also be wondering if there is any way you can keep a DUI/OVI off your permanent record.

Information About OVI / DUI In Gahanna, Ohio
If you are wondering these things, you have come to the right website.  This site has dozens of pages of information about issues relevant to DUI/OVI in Gahanna and the central Ohio area.  Under the heading for ‘Practice Areas’ in the column on the right side of the screen, there are categories of DUI/OVI topics.  Each of those categories contains multiple pages, and each page addresses an individual topic.

If you prefer a resource with the topics assimilated in one document, you may find it helpful to read the book ‘Ohio DUI / OVI Guide’.  That book is a quick read and contains a concise explanation of what everyone should know before going to court for a DUI/OVI in central Ohio.  The book is available for sale in online bookstores, and you can download the e-book for free on this website.

The Court Process For Gahanna DUI/OVI Cases
Whether a DUI/OVI case is filed in the Gahanna Mayor’s Court or the Franklin County Municipal Court, the process is nearly identical.  At the first court appearance, the arraignment, you will be given a choice of three pleas:  guilty, no contest, and not guilty.  If you enter a plea of guilty or no contest, the magistrate or judge will impose a sentence, and your case will be concluded. 

If you enter a plea of not guilty, the case will be scheduled for a pretrial hearing.  Before attending the pretrial hearing, you and your lawyer can obtain discovery; the evidence the prosecuting attorney intends to introduce.  You can then evaluate the evidence and prepare a defense to try to improve the outcome of the case.  If you reach a plea agreement at the pretrial hearing, the case is finished.  If you don’t, the case is typically scheduled for a hearing on motions to suppress evidence.  If the case is not resolved at that stage, a trial is held, and a judge/magistrate or jury decides if the evidence proves your guilt.

Making Decisions About Your DUI/OVI Case
Before going to your first court appearance, you should think through how you intend to handle your case.  Will you plead guilty or no contest to the OVI, or will you contest the OVI and try to improve the outcome?  You will also need to decide whether you are going to hire an attorney and, if so, which attorney you will hire.  To help you make these decision, it may be beneficial to speak with an attorney who has experience with DUI/OVI cases in the Gahanna area.

Attorneys For DUI/OVI Cases In Gahanna, Ohio
The Dominy Law Firm has experience with DUI/OVI cases in the Gahanna area.  The firm has been practicing criminal defense since 1997, and the focus of the practice is DUI/OVI defense.  Attorney Shawn Dominy was named a ‘Top Lawyer’ for DUI/OVI by Columbus CEO Magazine, given an ‘AV-Preeminent’ rating (the top possible rating) by Martindale-Hubbell, and was selected for the SuperLawyers list of the top Ohio DUI/OVI attorneys.  Attorney Bryan Hawkins was named as one of the Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys Under 40 in Ohio and is the recipient of Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award.

The Dominy Law Firm represents clients charged with DUI/OVI in Gahanna, Ohio.  They also represent clients from Gahanna charged with DUI/OVI in other central Ohio courts.  You can learn more about the Dominy Law Firm’s client reviews and case results on this website.  If you would like to speak with the Dominy Law Firm about your DUI/OVI case, please complete this CONTACT FORM or call 614-717-1177.