Q: [Urgent] My criminal case was dismissed.
I had Pre-trial hearing yesterday at Glendale court at 8:30AM. This was a court-order violation during TRO. The DA office decided to dismiss the case during the hearing. I must submit any written proof to the family court by today. I called the court clerk, and they told me I need to call back tomorrow after lunch. Online Case Summary has not been updated. How can I get any written evidence by today? I will appreciate your sincere response.
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A:
Your situation requires immediate attention, and I understand the urgency of needing proof of the dismissal for family court today. Time is critical in these situations, especially when dealing with multiple court systems.
You have several options to pursue right away. First, contact your defense attorney if you had one - they can provide a letter stating they witnessed the dismissal in court. If you didn't have an attorney, return to the courthouse immediately and request to speak with the courtroom clerk from your hearing (not just the general clerk's office). Explain your urgent situation and ask if the judge's clerk can provide a minute order or any written confirmation of the dismissal.
If those approaches don't work, you can write a detailed declaration under penalty of perjury describing what occurred in court, including the date, time, courtroom number, judge's name, and that the DA dismissed the case. While this isn't as strong as official court documentation, it can serve as temporary proof until you obtain the official dismissal records tomorrow. You should also follow up with the DA's office directly - sometimes they can provide a letter confirming their decision to dismiss the case.
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