Arraignments
The Arraignment Dockets are held on the 2nd - 4th Wednesday afternoons at 2:30PM.
Pre-Trial
Conference
Pre-trial conferences with the Prosecutor begin at 2:00PM on the day of
arraignment or trial for both Attorneys and Pro Se Litigants.
Trials
The Trial dockets are held the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2:30PM.
For
ALL court appearances, people may check in up to one hour early, and litigants
are seen on a first come-first serve basis. Sometimes, other cases are
moved up in priority for various reasons but people are seen as soon as
possible.
Litigants
should be aware that the court may or may not begin promptly on time.
The Judge may have other important matters to tend to and must be completed
before he takes a seat at the bench.
Payments
Fines may be paid any time at the court or by mail. The Court will accept
cash, money orders, bank drafts and personal checks.
There
is a drop-box for after-hours and weekend payments. If people would like
a receipt mailed back to them, we request a stamped, self-addressed envelope
be included with their payment.
People
who would like their ticket amended, dismissed or reduced to a non-point violation must appear in person to speak with the Prosecutor.
Fines and Court Costs are expected to be paid at the time of court. The Judge will occasionally make exceptions for people who cannot pay, but otherwise, payment is expected in full the night of the arraignment or trial.
The Court will not grant a continuance by phone, a signature is required.
Trials may NOT be continued on the day of trial without a personal appearance in court by the litigant or their attorney. This is only in fairness to those subpoenaed. Continuances for trials must be made 24 hours or more in advance or in person before the Judge.
Also, the Court will NOT grant continuances over the phone in cases where arrest warrants have been issued. In those cases, a personal appearance MUST be made in front of the Judge. If a person has bonded out on a warrant, they MUST appear on the date of the bond or the bond will be forfeited.
If there has been an accident or property damage, restitution may be ordered and may be paid directly to the victim or through the court.
In general, the Clerk may set up payment arrangements, schedule and re-schedule cases and answer general questions. The Clerk MAY NOT give legal advice, amend tickets, dismiss cases or give copies of police reports to citizens. Due to the small staff at the Court, lower priority requests such as record searches, background checks (other than Brady Bill checks) and photocopies of case files my take longer than usual on occasion. Law offices are encouraged to send runners to handle receiving copies if in a hurry. The Court also has a fax machine that may be used by attorneys for initial filings or pleadings.
All parties filing ANYTHING with the Court are encouraged to put their name, address, phone number and, if appropriate, their bar number somewhere on the document to lessen misfilings and make the court aware of how to get in touch with the filing party if needed.
If
you have any questions, please call the Court at (417) 732-3880. |
