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How to Avoid Jail if You Miss a Court Date

Jun 16, 2021
2’ read
Criminal Defense
Ryan RobertsonPartner | 12 years of experience
Portrait of Attorney Ryan Robertson
Portrait of Attorney Ryan Robertson
Ryan RobertsonPartner 12 years of experience

You’ve probably heard that if you miss a court date you’re off to jail. Well, that can be true. But there are steps you can take to avoid jail if you miss a court date. That’s what Robinson & Henry Lead Criminal Defense Attorney Ryan Robinson explores in this article.

Missed a Court Date? Get a Lawyer.

If you miss a court date, we strongly recommend you talk to a criminal defense attorney. When you have an attorney on your side, you have a better chance of a more favorable outcome. Call 303-688-0944 to set up a case assessment with a member of our Criminal Defense Team. Click here to schedule that meeting online.

Avoid Jail Time if You Miss a Court Date

If you’re ever charged with a crime, one of the nightmares you may have is that you miss a court date. But what if that nightmare becomes a reality? What should you do? Will you automatically go to jail?

What Happens if You Miss a Court Date

Let’s be honest, the court will not be happy if you miss a court date. You could have a bench warrant issued for you if this happens. A bench warrant is when a judge issues a warrant for your arrest.

What to Do if You Miss a Court Date

The very first thing you should do is contact your attorney. Your lawyer can file an entry of appearance that shows they represent you on your case. And he or she can file something called a motion to quash.

A motion to quash lets the court know you did not intentionally miss your court date. This motion is an attempt to have the bench warrant set aside, as well as get you another court date – and hopefully, you can avoid going to jail.

If you miss a court date, it’s imperative that you hire a criminal defense attorney who has a lot of experience filing these motions so you spend less time outside of jail and not the other way around.

Get Help with Your Criminal Case

If need a criminal defense attorney to help you get a bench warrant set aside, call 303-688-0944 to schedule a case assessment. This is not an issue you want to sit on for too long.