Close Menu
Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP - Attorneys at Law
  • Confidential Consultations
  • Hablamos Español

MBLK Help! I Missed My Court Date

male-judge-in-a-courtroom-striking-the-gavelYou knew that you had a court date, but life got in the way. No matter the reason, you failed to appear and now you are worried. You don’t want to attract attention to yourself, but you don’t want to get into any more trouble with the court. What do you do? The first step is to take a deep breath. Things are not great right now, but missing a court date is something that can be fixed.

Once you have missed a court date, a judge may issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This type of warrant is signed by a judge and not a law enforcement officer. It is a direct order that you be placed under arrest and taken into custody. When a bench warrant is issued for your arrest, you can be taken into custody no matter where you are. The best thing you can do for yourself is to contact a lawyer and take care of the warrant immediately.

People wonder what happens once they are arrested for a bench warrant. In most cases, you will be taken into custody immediately and brought before the court. It is legal to have you placed in jail until your court appearance and you do not have to be given bail.

Once you appear before the judge, you may find yourself imposed with a jail sentence or additional fines. In some states, the judge may suspend your driver’s license and not return it to you until you address your failure to appear. If you were originally released on bail for your criminal charge, your bail or bond may be revoked. If you were freed without having to pay a bail, a judge may impose one now.

Missing a court date is not something to take lightly, but it is something that you can repair. Do not bury your head in the sand. Contact your attorney and work to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

If you need an attorney in San Bernardino, we are here for you. Reach out to our office today for assistance in taking care of your failure to appear charge. We have experience in the local court system, and we can help you. Call now or browse our website for more information about our firm and the types of cases we handle.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.