EXPERIENCED OVI LAWYER SERVING
WORTHINGTON, OHIO
If you have been charged with a DUI / OVI in Worthington, Ohio, contacting an experienced Ohio DUI lawyer is essential. An attorney that is familiar with the local court rules, is familiar with the quirks of the prosecutor and the local judge or magistrate, and can analyze the facts of your case to highlight potential legal defenses will be invaluable to achieving your best possible outcome.
As an experienced DUI/OVI lawyer serving Worthington, Ohio, Attorney Douglas Riddell will examine all aspects of your OVI case to determine whether the arresting officer properly issued all required warnings, properly administered all of the roadside field sobriety tests, and performed the search, tests and arrest lawfully.
Attorney Doug Riddell has successfully represented clients facing drunk driving charges throughout Central Ohio, including in the Worthington Mayor’s Court, in cases ranging from first and second offense DUI charges to repeat felony DUI cases that can carry significant penalties, including jail time.
WORTHINGTON, OHIO MAYOR’S COURT
If you have been charged with a DUI / OVI in Worthington, Ohio, your case may be filed in the Worthington Mayor’s Court. The Court is located in the Worthington Municipal Building at 6550 N. High Street in Worthington, Ohio. The Worthington Mayor’s Court is generally in session beginning at 6 p.m. each Thursday.
Attorney Doug Riddell is regularly at the Worthington Mayor’s Court representing his clients facing DUI / OVI and other misdemeanor charges. The Worthington Mayor’s Court hears traffic cases and other misdemeanor charges, including DUI / OVI cases.
Whether you should move forward with your case in the Mayor’s Court or transfer the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court is a decision you should make in conjunction with your attorney. Mayor’s Courts, including the Worthington Mayor’s Court, are not courts of record and are not authorized to conduct jury trials. Thus, if a defendant charged with a DUI in Worthington would like a jury trial, then the case will be transferred to the Franklin County Municipal Court. In fact, a defendant can opt to transfer or appeal his or her case to the Franklin County Municipal Court at any time for any reason.
There may be some advantages, however, to having your case heard in the Mayor’s Court. For example, a hearing in a mayor’s court is generally more informal, may have evening hours (as the Worthington Mayor’s Court does), and may be more conveniently located for you than the downtown Franklin County Municipal Court.
There are both pros and cons to having your case heard in the Worthington Mayor’s Court, depending on your specific situation. Consulting with an experienced Ohio DUI attorney on this issue is critical to ensure the best possible outcome given the circumstances of your case.
Typically, if you hire Riddell Law as your attorney, we will consult with you and advise whether it is best based on the facts of your case to have your case heard in the Worthington Mayor’s Court, or to transfer the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court.
Once that decision is made, Mr. Riddell will likely arrange it so that you do not have to appear in court for your first court date. He will handle it for you. This way, you do not have to worry about taking off work or otherwise arranging your schedule to go to court. After that first court appearance (which is called your “arraignment”), Mr. Riddell will continue to gather information about the facts of your case, evaluate possible flaws in the prosecution’s case, and negotiate with the prosecutor for a favorable resolution of your case, including the best possible options for reinstatement of your driver’s license. If negotiations fail, Attorney Doug Riddell will conduct motion hearings and a trial as necessary to ensure the best possible outcome.
To begin the process and discuss representation for your Worthington, Ohio DUI / OVI, call Attorney Doug Riddell directly at 614-361-2804. Because we know DUI charges rarely happen during 9:00-5:00 working hours, Mr. Riddell is there to take your call after hours, on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
