Q: Do I need a lawyer for first time DUI and Leaving the scene of accident?
I tied to qualify for public defender however, my pay would not allow it. I had my first appearance on the 29th. All the judge did was ask if I had an attorney, and since I did not he rescheduled my date to March. Why did it get rescheduled? Is he implying that I should get a lawyer?
A:
You absolutely need a lawyer. DUIs, let alone those involving injury/accident, are very complicated. Call an attorney like myself for a free consultation at least.
As for your court dates, yes the Court is implying you need lawyer. Typically, if you don't have a lawyer when in Court and aren't sure what to do and don't seem to be confident in proceeding in our own "pro se", then the Court is always going to reset your case to give you time to get a lawyer (especially if you already applied and didn't qualify for a PD). However, they will only do this once (or twice if you have a really good reason for the delay). So time is of the essence. Act quickly!
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