Comments on: Do i have to hire a DUI lawyer or can a free one be assigned? california?

By: Shaddog

Shaddog — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:38:05 +0000

Don’t even waste your money. If his bac was .08 or more he is screwed even if he has a hired lawyer. The law is very specific on DUI,s and i don’t even think the judge his self could get out of it if he got one. It,s time for you to tell your dad you have had enough. Tell him you love him but you will no longer help do his dirty work. This is complete crap that that man has put you though. If this is his first DUI he won’t get any jail time but he will get a hefty fine and have to do DUI class,s and have a sr22 on his insurance. Also he will lose his license for i think 90 day,s. I wish i had a kid like you. Stand firm with him, and good luck.

By: R. Suarez

R. Suarez — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:49:13 +0000

Yes, if he can’t afford paying a lawyer a free public defender will be assigned to him, so let him be defended by a public lawyer; Now your dad has fallen in a vicious circle of driving drunk and be bailed out by you, I’m sorry to say this but don’t bail him out, he needs to learn the concecuenses of his actions, my uncle Ed is just like that, his wife left him years ago, he constantly gets drunk and in trouble with the law, and he relies on family members to bail him out, well recently my mom had enough and stop bailing him.

Each time you bail him you are opening another chance that he drives drunk again and next time he could hurt himself or someone else and then he’s gonna be put in jail for good, i’m sorry for being so blunt but I would **** if your dad runs over a kid or an eldery person.

Good Luck.

By: Rick Rutledge

Rick Rutledge — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:12:34 +0000

Whether or not your dad can get a court-appointed lawyer will generally depend on his financial situation and what state you live in (I don’t know the laws specific to California), and the actual charge that has been made. If he has had several DUIs, it may be moving out of the realm of moving violations into the realm of vehicular crimes.

Even if you don’t get him a lawyer, and if he doesn’t get a court-appointed lawyer, perhaps you’d consider going to court with him, to speak on his behalf, and ask that maybe the judge order him into drug and alcohol rehab, rather than just sending him to jail? If the judge will do it, that will help to solve the problem in the longer term. Generally, in situations like this, the judges are fairly informal, and will listen to input from other witnesses.

By you being there to help with his English, he may come away with a better understanding of what’s going on, too.

By: thomken2

thomken2 — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:14:17 +0000

if you get one assigned, rest assured that you will spend time in jail. then just sy you cant afford one let him go to jail. next month the same thing will happen

By: Allison W

Allison W — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:13:45 +0000

He must have a DWI since he’s not a minor. He can get a court appointed attorney.