Q: Why do I have a change of plea hearing for a misdemeanor case? I didn't ask for it.
I've told my lawyer I'm not accepting any plea deals. Did my lawyer make a mistake or is this part of the normal process?
My lawyer told me it's normal and that it's just a hearing where they offer you a plea deal.
A: Typically a change of plea hearing is set when you come to an agreement with the prosecutor to resolve your case. If you do not want to resolve your case via a plea, then the matter will be set for a later status date then trial. During the Pandemic, a lot of prosecutors are setting on a change of plea docket and offering great deals in an attempt to resolve the case and reduce their case load.
A: If your lawyer didn't explain it to well enough, ask the lawyer to explain it again.
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