Arizona DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
If you were arrested for a misdemeanor DUI in the Town of Gilbert, you will likely be cited into the Gilbert Municipal Court or the Highland Justice Court – both located at 55 East Civic Center Drive in Gilbert, AZ. Felony DUI complaints are filed in the Maricopa County Superior Court – Southeast Facility, located at 222 East Javelina Drive in Mesa, AZ.
Investigating and litigating DUI cases can be complex, and if you plan to hire an attorney, it is important to find one who has experience in defending these types of cases. While there are many potential defenses in a DUI case, this discussion will focus primarily on "Procedural Defenses" which may be pursued in your case.
What are "Procedural Defenses"? Procedural criminal law is the formal procedures and protocols that the court uses to adjudicate criminal cases, including D.U.I. cases. It controls all stages of prosecution from the police investigation all the way through the trial and appeal. At each step of the process, there will be occasions for a competent Gilbert D.U.I. defense attorney to use the rules to help shape the focus the case. Opportunities for exclusion of evidence, and even dismissal of the case, can be fought for utilizing these rules of procedure. In Arizona, the procedural rules are formally titled the "Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure" and can be found online, or at any local law library. The attorney you chose to represent you in your Gilbert D.U.I. matter should know and understand these rules thoroughly. The importance of these rules cannot be overstated. Some of the procedural defenses that may be raised in D.U.I. or criminal traffic cases may include any number of the following issues: