It is important to understand how the Chandler Municipal Court handles cases like yours in order to prepare for your upcoming court date, and a skilled Chandler criminal defense attorney from Steven George Law can assist you to secure a favorable outcome. With an experienced attorney on your side, it is possible to have your charges reduced to a lesser offense or even entirely dismissed.
What Happens When You Receive a Traffic Ticket or Misdemeanor in Chandler Municipal Court?
If you have recently received a citation for a traffic offense or if you have misdemeanor charges within the City of Chandler, your case will be heard in the Chandler Municipal Court. The Chandler Municipal Court handles criminal misdemeanors and traffic violations committed within the City of Chandler, Arizona. Examples of cases heard in Chandler Municipal Court include driving under the influence of alcohol, domestic violence, assault, hit-and-run, and reckless driving. In addition, the Chandler Municipal Court can issue Orders of Protection and search warrants.
If you were taken into police custody on a traffic violation or misdemeanor offense, the judge will also determine whether bail should be set and, if so, how much. If you are granted bail, you will need to pay your bail bond to secure your release. The judge will also determine what your release conditions are.
Chandler Municipal Court Contact Information
Chandler Municipal Court is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on Wednesdays when the court closes at 4:30 p.m. The Court is closed on holidays. If you have a court date scheduled, you must appear at the following address:
200 E. Chicago St.
Chandler, AZ 85225
You can reach the courthouse by calling 480-782-4700.
Court Appearances
No weapons, food, drink, or gum chewing will be allowed in the Court building. You must observe appropriate standards of attire. While clothing need not be formal, it should be clean, neat and in good repair. Shoes and shirts must be worn, and T-shirts which carry offensive slogans or pictures are not allowed. Hats should be removed before entering the court building.
Arraignment in Chandler Municipal Court
Under Arizona law, you can be brought to trial only after a formal citation or complaint has been filed. If you were given a citation/complaint by a police officer, the arraignment date will be the appearance date on your citation/complaint. If you received a summons from the Court, your arraignment date will be the court date indicated on your summons. If you are released from jail your release order will indicate your court date.
At your arraignment, you must enter a plea. Your decision on what plea to enter is one of the most important decisions you will make. There are three possible pleas to a criminal charge:
- Plea of Not Guilty – A plea of “Not Guilty” means that you are informing the Court that you deny guilt and the State must prove the criminal charges against you. If you plead “Not Guilty,” a Pre-Trial Conference will be scheduled, and you must decide whether to employ an attorney to represent you. If an attorney is appointed to represent you, you may be ordered to contribute to the cost of your attorney.
- Plea of No Contest – A plea of “No Contest”, also known as “Nolo Contendere,” simply means that you do not wish to contest the State’s charge against you. Upon a plea of “No Contest” being accepted, the Judge will enter a judgment of guilty. If you enter a plea of “Guilty” or “No Contest”, you may be sentenced immediately following the Judge’s acceptance of your plea.
- Plea of Guilty – By a plea of “Guilty”, you admit that you committed the act charged in the complaint. If you were involved in an incident where someone was injured at the time of the alleged offense, your plea of “Guilty” could be used later in a civil suit for damages as an admission by you that you were at fault or were the party responsible for the injury.
Pre-Trial Conference
You and your attorney will be given an opportunity to meet with a Prosecutor to review the facts supporting the State’s criminal charges against you. Witnesses do not attend the Pre-Trial Conference, and no testimony is taken. You are not required to discuss the facts of your case with the Prosecutor, since anything you say to them could be used against you in further proceedings.
You have three options at the Pre-Trial Conference:
- You have the option of accepting the Plea Agreement, which routinely contains the sentence you will receive (if accepted by the Judge).
- You can reject the Prosecutor’s offer and change your plea of “Not Guilty” to “Guilty” or “No Contest” directly to the Judge without agreeing on a sentence with the Prosecutor. If the Court accepts your plea, you will be sentenced by the Judge. Both you and the City Prosecutor will have an opportunity to address the Court before the Court determines the sentence.
- You can maintain your plea of “Not Guilty” and have the case set to trial.
Chandler Municipal Court Trials
Depending on the type of crime you were accused of, your case could be heard by either a jury or a judge. The prosecutor is required to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction, according to the Arizona Judicial Branch’s Criminal Trial Process. If you are found not guilty, you will be released without penalty. However, if you are found guilty, you will either be sentenced immediately following your guilty verdict or at a later date.
Attorney Representation
You have the right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of court proceedings. If you are going to have an attorney represent you, you should make those arrangements prior to the Pre-Trial Conference, and well in advance of the trial date.
Steven George Law has extensive knowledge and years of experience defending the accused in Chandler Municipal Court. Take steps to protect your future and avoid the serious penalties that come with a criminal conviction when you contact our office to schedule a confidential consultation. Fill out our secure contact form or call us at (480) 363-0090 to schedule your initial defense strategy session right away.
