Were you cited for drunk driving in Dublin, Ohio? Chances are, your case will be handled in Dublin Mayor’s Court.
1. The Mayor’s Court Only Meets Three Days Per Month
If your case is going to be held at the Dublin Mayor’s Court, you should know that there are only three days in a given month your case can be heard on. This is because Dublin Mayor’s Court only hears cases on the second, third, and fourth Tuesday of every month.
2. Dublin Court Hearings Take Place in the Evenings
Take a look at your citation and you will see the scheduled date, time, and location of your hearing. The Dublin Mayor’s Court only hears cases in the evenings. For example, arraignments take place at 5pm, plea hearings are at 5:30, and trials are at 6:30pm.
3. There Is No Jury
Cases heard in Dublin Mayor’s Court are not heard before a jury, unlike cases heard in a higher court like Franklin County Municipal Court.
4. Cases Are Actually Heard by the Mayor
In some jurisdictions, Mayor’s Court cases are not actually heard by the Mayor. In Dublin, they are. The only exception would be if the Mayor is unable to preside over a case, a Mayor-appointed magistrate or Vice-Mayor can take this responsibility.
5. Attorneys Are Not Required
Unlike in higher courts, defendants are not required to be represented by an attorney. However, they do have this option and Koffel Brininger Nesbitt would strongly recommend it. Also, if you begin your case without attorney representation and later change your mind, you can involve an attorney at any point.
6. Drunk Driving Tickets Require a Court Appearance
There are certain citations that do not require the offender to appear in court, but “operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated” is not one of them. If you were arrested for drunk or drugged driving in Dublin, you will have to appear in court.
7. The Dublin Mayor Imposes the Sentence
Anyone convicted of a violation in Dublin Mayor’s Court will be sentenced by the Mayor. The sentence or “punishment” is designed to fit the crime, and might include things like jail time, monetary fines, community service, and probation.
8. Dublin Has Two City Prosecutors
If you are cited for a violation in Dublin, there are only two options for who you will be going up against. This is because the city of Dublin only has two prosecutors. Currently, those prosecutor's are Marty Nobile and Stephen Smith.
9. Some Cases Are Transferred to Municipal Court
The Dublin Mayor has the authority to transfer certain cases to Franklin County Municipal Court, which is located at 375 S High Street, Columbus Ohio 43215.
10. We Know the Dublin Mayor’s Court
Perhaps the most important thing you should know about the Dublin Mayor’s Court / Dublin Justice Center is that we are intimately familiar with its proceedings and personnel. Contact a Dublin OVI defense attorney at Koffel Brininger Nesbitt today if you were arrested for drunk driving and we can explain to you your legal rights and options.