Q: Representing myself in criminal court what is expected of me at pretrial conference? Do I need. Forms?

A: Criminal court is less formal than Civil court and generally, you can make motions verbally, and the judge will enter them in the docket. At pre-trial conference you are expected to let the judge know when you might be ready for trial. The judge will recite a trial date and you can remain quiet or ask for a different date because of specific reason(s). You should also make sure the state gives you the discovery packet. Make sure the judge knows if you have not received the documents and he will order the state to provide you with them within a certain amount of time. If you are looking at jail time, you can ask for a public defender.

A: You can ask for a continuance, set the case for trial, plea no contest, plea guilty or set the case for a plea date. Many Judges will allow an ore tenus (verbal) motion for continue but you might want to make sure you have grounds for the continuance. If you want to file motions to suppress/dismiss/in limine that will require forms. I would also recommend that you demand discovery so that you know what the state does or doesn't have unless you have some motivation to not participate in the discovery process. If the public defender is an option for you I would recommend that you use them. A saying for lawyers is that any lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. I cant see any reason it would be different for a non lawyer.