san diego county, california court info

The San Diego County Criminal Court system oversees both misdemeanor and felony driving under the influence cases.

San Diego DUI court proceedings are assigned to one of four regional court faciities located in El Cajon, Vista, Chula Vista, and downtown San Diego's Hall of Justice. The County in which you were arrested will determine where you'll be required to appear for arraignment.

misdemeanor & felony arraignments

If the District Attorney is charging your DUI case as a misdemeanor offense, your first court appearance will be an arraignment - the court will formally advise you of pending charges, inform you of your rights, and determine whether you are eligible for a public defender if you have not yet hired a lawyer.

At this initial hearing you'll be asked to state a plea; a denial of guilt, "nolo contendre", meaning you decline to contest the charges nor admit any fault that can be used against you in a civil suit, or guilty...don't EVER plead guilty to DUI without consulting with a lawyer who specializes in drunk driving defense. Driving Under the Influence charges are very contestable when challenged by a qualified DUI lawyer, on average. Every case differs in its weaknesses and technicalities, and there is never a fee to receive an initial attorney consultation with our firm.

SAN DIEGO COURT LOCATIONS