Q: Can I apply for a remission of bond forfeiture on my own?
I had two DWIs in 2012. I had a horrible lawyer who never told me anything about my court dates. I stayed with the same lawyer for years, who did not do anything for my case. I had a hard time getting a court date because when I did have a court date, he would not show up. I spent close to five years with a breathalyzer in my car and with a lawyer who never got back to me whenever I tried to contact him. I was always hoping we could get a decision settled on the case. I ended up getting arrested after a routine traffic stop. Apparently, i had a warrant for my arrest for not showing up in court. I went to jail for 6 weeks. It seemed like everything was done. I just received a bill from Travis County for $7000 for two bond forfeitures that date back to 2013 that I did not even know about. Is there any way of receiving some clemency because it was my lawyers fault? i never received any notifications of a bill prior to this.
A: This is now a civil matter, and the question is whether a judgment has been issued on the forfeiture. You have the right to proceed on your own, but understand "I don't know, I'm not a lawyer" is not a defense nor an excuse if you choose to handle this matter pro se. Good luck.
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