In 2011, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) published a study that looked into the misdemeanor court system in Florida. The publication titled “Three-Minute Justice: Haste and Waste in Florida’s Misdemeanor Courts” found that a harrowing 3 percent of all adults in the state pass through the courts on a yearly basis. They, however, are not always greeted with a just system. In fact, the study found that an overwhelming amount of adults resolved their case without legal counsel – a total of 70 percent of cases being resolved at arraignment.

In the study, these arraignments, which decided the future of defendants, were anything but comprehensive; in fact, many lasted shorter than three minutes (82 percent), with many defendants simply pleading guilty. The worst part? The study found that less than 50 percent of the cases where a defendant pleaded guilty involved a trial judge who directly informed the defendants of the rights that they were waiving – including their right to appeal.

Statistics such as this underline the need for aggressive legal counsel from the very beginning of the criminal process. This is simply not the time to waive your right to legal representation. This study also noted that defendants who either hired counsel or had counsel appointed for them were less likely to enter a plea of guilty. When it’s your future on the line, don’t you deserve a fighting chance? By involving our firm from the very beginning of your case, we can help ensure your protection. Our dedicated DUI attorney will appear with you during your arraignment hearing in Jacksonville, utilizing our vast experience to help you fight for the outcome that you truly deserve.