Conroe Criminal Defense Attorneys

Failing to Appear in Court

Failure to appear can apply in criminal court, civil court, traffic court and even jury services. If you have been properly informed of a court appearance and you fail to appear then that is a violation of the law that, in some jurisdictions, is considered a misdemeanor.

The circumstances surrounding the failure to appear will alter the way the law is applied and any relevant penalties. In regards to criminal court and civil court, a failure to appear may result in a bench warrant. Bench warrants are a specific type of arrest warrant issued by a judge. There may also be fines and other serious penalties.

In regards to civil cases, if a plaintiff fails to appear, the case may be dismissed and that would limit future legal actions against the defendant. If the defendant fails to appear, the judge may find in favor of the plaintiff. These forfeiture or default judgments are legally binding on both parties.

With traffic court, a person may be charged with failure to appear even if they are found not guilty of the traffic violations. A failure to appear may result in the suspension of a person’s driver’s license, fines and other serious penalties. In extreme situations, a bench warrant may be issued.

When it comes to jury duty, a failure to appear may result in punitive fines, additional jury duty service and in extreme situations, a bench warrant may be issued. Jury duty is a civic duty and everyone over the age of eighteen may be called to serve. Unless you are legally excused from this duty, you must appear and perform your responsibilities.

If you or someone you know has been ordered to court, not attending the hearing will only compound the problem. You need to meet your court dates or have a legal representative meet them for you. Avoidance does not solve anything.

If you are dealing with a failure to appear charge, contact Smith and Garg for a consultation to inquire about the best way to handle your situation. Doing nothing about these charges will only exacerbate the situation.

The Conroe criminal defense attorneys at Garg & Associates have represented, defended and won cases in a multitude of different criminal cases and jury trials in courtrooms across the state of Texas. These attorneys have the trial advocacy talent and negotiation skills that you will need to defend yourself. If you or someone that you know requires a quality criminal defense attorney, contact Garg & Associates today for a consultation. Garg & Associates handles criminal law / criminal defense cases throughout Harris County, Montgomery County, and Walker County.

Please contact our office to see how we can assist you. Learn more about our Areas of Practice.