what happens if i miss a court date due to my lawyer giving me the wrong date on accident

by Prof. Brent Rohan Jr. 7 min read

Talk to your lawyer. Your lawyer can file a motion to quash the warrant. There would be a hearing where you and your lawyer can explain that the lawyer gave you the wrong date.

Your attorney can appear for you and explain the situation. You may also be able to send an agent, such as a family member, to clarify why you're not there. Neglecting to appear or contact the court can have serious consequences. You could be arrested or charged with failure to appear, which is a criminal offense.Aug 14, 2020

Full Answer

What happens if I miss my court date without an attorney?

If you have missed your date, hiring an attorney is often a good idea if a bench warrant has been issued for your failure to appear. Attorneys can often go to court on your behalf and ask the court to set the warrant aside. Judges will usually go along with this request, but may be less likely to do so if you appear without an attorney.

What happens if you miss a court date for a traffic ticket?

A court date is serious business and it doesn’t matter if it’s for a traffic ticket or a felony. You must show up. It is the only thing you need to do on that day. If you miss it, even if you have a good excuse, you are not going to be looked on favorably by the judge.

What happens if I miss my court date while on bond?

Being out on bond and missing a court date results in the immediate revocation of your bond conditions, and police officers will be asked to serve you a warrant and bring you in. This can greatly harshen the consequences and outcome of your current case as well as result in a new case altogether -- missing a court appearance is a crime unto itself.

What happens if I miss a court date for an FTA?

When you miss a court date the judge automatically will issue an FTA warrant so that you can be picked up by the police and brought before the judge to answer for your case. If you hire an attorney prior to being arrested for the FTA it may be avoided.

What to do if you missed a court date?

It is not uncommon for people to miss court dates. It is not advised, but nevertheless not uncommon. It depends what type of hearing you missed (criminal, civil, arraignment, trial, etc.), but regardless, the first thing you should do is call your lawyer. If you missed a hearing for a criminal or traffic proceeding, there is likely a capias (bench warrant) for your arrest. You will need to have your case brought back into court so the judge who ordered the arrest warrant can cancel it. If you missed a prove-up hearing on a civil matter, there is a good chance the judge ruled against you. The worst thing you can do after missing court it put it off. If you missed court, get your rear end to your atorney’s office and have he or she get you in front of a judge as soon as possible.

What happens if you miss a court hearing?

If you missed a hearing for a criminal or traffic proceeding, there is likely a capias (bench warrant) for your arrest. You will need to have your case brought back into court so the judge who ordered the arrest warrant can cancel it. If you missed a prove-up hearing on a civil matter, there is a good chance the judge ruled against you.

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What happens if you miss a court date?

If you miss a court date for either a misdemeanor or felony criminal charge, not showing up will result in the judge issuing a warrant and the cops actively pursuing bringing you in; this especially applies to cases associated with sexual assault, murder, and other violent offenses.

What happens if you don't show up to court?

If you don't show up to court on your court date, a warrant will be issued; however, picking you up on the warrant probably won't be carried out unless your name is run through the system in that county. Police officers usually don't track people down to serve this type of warrant.

What are the consequences of not showing up to court?

Consequences are Worse with Felony and Violent Offenses. If you have a court date for something more severe than a speeding ticket or traffic violation, the consequences for not showing up will likely be harsh.

Can police track people down?

Police officers usually don't track people down to serve this type of warrant. The danger, though, comes if you run afoul of the law in that county again - another speeding ticket or other infraction could land you in jail.

Is missing a court appearance a crime?

This can greatly harshen the consequences and outcome of your current case as well as result in a new case altogether -- missing a court appearance is a crime unto itself. And do keep in mind that if property or money was put up for your bond, the collateral will likely be kept by the court system.

What happens if you miss a court date?

If you miss your court date, the judge will most likely issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This is true even for something seemingly simple, like a traffic ticket. Now, in most cases, if you missed your court date and your violation was minor, you will probably not be actively pursued by the police. However, you will still have ...

What to do if you missed a court date?

If you realize that you missed your court date, the first thing you should do is call the court clerk. You are not the first person to have this happen. If you contact the court within days of the violation, and depending on the state, the clerk may be able to reset the date without a penalty. If the Failure to Appear is an old one, however, ...

What is an arrest warrant?

Arrest Warrants. Arrest warrants are issued if there is enough evidence to prove that you have, likely, committed a crime. An officer or detective can request that the warrant be issued and you can be held in jail until your arraignment or a similar proceeding.

What happens if you fail to appear in court?

In some states, if you fail to appear in court, your driver’s license can be suspended. This puts you in a predicament particularly if you are pulled over. You’ll be arrested not just for missing the date, but for driving with a suspended license. If your license is suspended, there will be fees to have it reinstated and you may have to pay additional fees with your insurance company.

What to do if you have questions about a case?

If you have any questions, always consult an attorney first. They can give you more specifics depending on your state’s laws and your personal situation. A qualified, experienced attorney can help you navigate the court system and make sure that you are receiving the best treatment available in your situation.

Can you miss a court date if you are pulled over for speeding?

However, you will still have a warrant out for your arrest and if you are, say, pulled over for speeding, the warrant will be there – and you could end up in jail. If you think you might have to miss your court date, call and reschedule it. Be proactive. A court date can usually be rearranged but a missed date is usually trouble.

What happens if you miss a court date?

If you've already missed your court date, there's a good chance that the judge as issued what's known as a bench warrant. When you have a bench warrant, this means that police officers are legally able to arrest you and hold you in jail until you take care of your missed court appearance.

Can I get an arraignment right away?

Furthermore, an experienced attorney may be able to get an arraignment scheduled right away, rather than you having to be arrested and wait for another trial. Of course, this can all vary greatly on a case-to-case basis. Missing a court date is never beneficial, but what's done is done.

Can you get a bench warrant for arrest?

At the very least, you will have a bench warrant issued for your arrest. However, there are a number of other circumstances you could face as a result. For starters, failure to appear in court can result in the addition of more charges and fines. You may also be required to pay a higher bond or forfeit any bond you posted to get out ...

What happens if you miss a court appearance?

If you fail to appear, the court will issue a warrant for your arrest.

What happens if you are not in court?

If the defendant is not inside the courthouse when the case is called by the judge, the judge may issue a Failure to Appear (FTA). An FTA can result in a license suspension and a bench warrant. The DMV may suspend your license upon notice from the court for failure to appear.

What to do if you can't make a court hearing?

Contact the Court if You Cannot Make the Hearing. If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to make the hearing because of a conflict, you should contact the court as soon as possible. You may be able to reschedule the hearing to a date and time where you will be able to attend.

Can the police come knocking on your door?

If you had a court date for a traffic violation or minor infraction, it is not likely that the police will come knocking on your door. However, if you get pulled over by the police for any minor traffic violation, the police will see that you have an outstanding warrant and make an arrest.

Can an attorney remove a warrant?

Many times, your attorney can appear on your behalf to remove a warrant so you will not have to spend time in jail waiting for your next court date. Contact an experienced East Bay criminal defense lawyer to handle a missed court date.

What happens if you miss a court date in California?

Missing Court date - California If you missed a court date in California, the judge presiding over your case likely issued a Bench Warrant. This means, if you are stopped by the police, or they happen to go to your house, you can be arrested.

How to get back on court date if you missed court date?

Go to the calendaring department of the court that you missed and ask them to put you back on calendar. You probably have a warrant. The warrant will remain active until you go to court. It is possible that you will be remanded (put in jail) when you go to your court date.

How to get a warrant recalled?

Go into court immediately, or hire an attorney to do so for you. Add yourself back on the Court's calendar and ask to have the warrant recalled, that is most likely placed. The longer you wait, the more likely it will be for a judge to decide to take you into custody. Report Abuse.

How to get contempt of court?

Contact your attorney immediately as you have to turn yourself in as soon as possible. You could get a contempt of court charge (on top of your original charges) depending on the Judge and the reason why you missed court. Talk to your attorney about what potential consequences.

What happens if you don't appear in court?

If they fail to appear, the court may issue a bench warrant for their arrest and forfeit their bond. Failing to appear may be treated as contempt of court and result in further incarceration. However, prior to taking any such action, the arraigning judge will at least provide a defendant an opportunity to provide an explanation. I'd recommend either contacting your current attorney or acquiring an attorney to assist you with this matter.

What to do if you don't have a lawyer?

If you have a lawyer you need to contact that lawyer asap and make arrangements to go to court. If you do not have a lawyer you need to contact a lawyer in your area asap. This is a situation where prompt action can make a real difference, warrants can be recalled and bonds can be lowered.

What to do if you missed a date?

If you missed it recently and go in to court and tell them that you mixed up the dates, it is likely that nothing will happen. If you are worried and it is a misdemeanor, you can hire a lawyer to appear for you. Report Abuse. Report Abuse.

My Lawyer Missed My Court Date

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Colorado Hello, I was charged with a crime at the end of last year (Dec. 2009). I hired a private lawyer (looking back, a public defender would have done much better) at a low cost fee.

Re: My Lawyer Missed My Court Date

In a word: YES. That is malpractice. I would ask for my money back or tell him you will file a complaint with the state bar. No lawyer wants to have the state bar take a look at his practice, much less suspend them for a month or worse. It is the duty of the attorney to know what all the court dates are.

Re: My Lawyer Missed My Court Date

In general, failing to show up for court and leaving you to defend yourself pro se is definitely legal malpractice and also likely breach of contract. (I doubt your retainer had a clause allowing your lawyer to skip court dates.) You can report him to the bar and sue him to get the fees back on the grounds that he breached the contract.

Re: My Lawyer Missed My Court Date

As a matter of law, in order to establish a legal malpractice claim, three elements must be proved: (1) the attorney owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, (2) the attorney breached that duty, and (3) the attorney proximately caused damage to the plaintiff. Bebo Constr. Co. v. Mattox, 990 P.2d 78, 83 (Colo. 1999).

What to do if you can't make court date?

If you can't make your court date or if you don't want to go, you can hire an attorney to appear on your behalf. Prosecutors are often more receptive to defendants who hire attorneys, so many times your lawyer can visit the prosecutor in advance and take care of the speeding ticket before your scheduled court date.

What to do if you missed your date?

This is a courtesy often offered to attorneys, but don't expect the court to do the same for you. If you have missed your date, hiring an attorney is often a good idea if a bench warrant has been issued for your failure to appear. Attorneys can often go to court on your behalf and ask the court to set the warrant aside.

What happens if you miss a speeding ticket?

Several things can happen if you miss your speeding ticket court date. First, a judgment will likely be entered against you for the ticket, meaning you can't challenge it and you're automatically found guilty. Second, the court may issue a bench warrant for your failure to appear. Third, you may even lose driving privileges or have your license ...

Can you reschedule a court date?

You can often call the court in advance and let them know if you know you're unable to attend your court date. Court officials will usually allow you to reschedule or arrange for a new date, but practices vary widely by jurisdiction. It can be difficult to know exactly what will happen and what your options are.

Can you reschedule a court date if you miss the original court date?

Depending on the jurisdiction, you'll probably have to reschedule your court date after you miss the original one. You may have to pay a fine or do both. Rescheduling fees or late court fees may also be imposed, and you may have to come before the court to explain why you missed your appearance. Of course, if a warrant has been issued ...

Can you be arrested if you have a warrant?

Of course, if a warrant has been issued for your arrest, you may be arrested in the interim or at the time you come to court. Calling to ask if any warrant can be set aside may also be an option, but there's no guarantee it will happen. Roger Thorne is an attorney who began freelance writing in 2003.

Can you lose your license if you miss a speeding ticket?

Second, the court may issue a bench warrant for your failure to appear. Third, you may even lose driving privileges or have your license revoked. In most jurisdictions, missing a speeding ticket court date will not result in a warrant, a license revocation or other negative actions taken against you, but the possibility exists ...

Mitchell Scott Sexner

Since you are inquiring on Avvo, I'm guessing you are out of custody right now. If you have an active warrant, then step one would be to call the court clerk where your case is pending to see if the warrant was entered and continued to your next court date, or if the Judge actually issued a warrant and how much it is.

Daniel G. Galivan

Obviously you could not appear in court while you were in custody if the jail did not have a writ in hand for the court appearance. Without a writ, they would not have taken you to court even if you told them about it. You do not say what the charge is or whether you are represented in the case in which the warrant was issued.

Bruce E. Burdick

Your to blame, it's your duty to be there. Did you tell the jail guards you had a court date? At your new hearing, let the Judge know you were in jail and misunderstood and thought it was automatic that they would take you to your hearing. Maybe he believes you, maybe not.