dwreck first thing you gotta do is GET YOUR 215 CARD ASAP!!
bring it to your next court date..
basically it goes in steps
first court date - arraignment...nothings gonna happen except they tell you want you are being charged with, and ask if you need a lawyer...say YES you want a public defender, they give you an extra month just to get that sorted out.
go to public defenders office...usually its right next door to court. if not, the PDs come visit you in court room during pre-trial.
next court date is pre-trial...this is where the judge decides to take to trial, hears plea deals, or drops. if you have your 215 paperwork at pre trial they might just drop the whole case entirely. your PD will stand next to you and talk to the judge for you.
if it goes beyond pre-trial good luck. usually for weed or minor offenses lke drinking go to PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION...which basically means you get NO charge on your record if you complete community service or drug treatment and pay a small fine. california courts are so swamped in most counties that they are desperate to get everyone with minor offenses into pretrial...they still get their revenue but dont clog the system.
good luck if you have questions PM me ive been in a dozen courthouses across california for random shit lol....
bring it to your next court date..
basically it goes in steps
first court date - arraignment...nothings gonna happen except they tell you want you are being charged with, and ask if you need a lawyer...say YES you want a public defender, they give you an extra month just to get that sorted out.
go to public defenders office...usually its right next door to court. if not, the PDs come visit you in court room during pre-trial.
next court date is pre-trial...this is where the judge decides to take to trial, hears plea deals, or drops. if you have your 215 paperwork at pre trial they might just drop the whole case entirely. your PD will stand next to you and talk to the judge for you.
if it goes beyond pre-trial good luck. usually for weed or minor offenses lke drinking go to PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION...which basically means you get NO charge on your record if you complete community service or drug treatment and pay a small fine. california courts are so swamped in most counties that they are desperate to get everyone with minor offenses into pretrial...they still get their revenue but dont clog the system.
good luck if you have questions PM me ive been in a dozen courthouses across california for random shit lol....
