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There are numerous events that take place after a DWI arraignment and before a trial. First, the facts and circumstances of the case are carefully and thoroughly reviewed. The client's recollection is compared with the police reports and other documents, which usually obtained at arraignment. Additional discovery may be conducted wherein training manuals and calibration records are obtained and reviewed.
The pretrial conference, which is usually the next scheduled court event after an arraignment, is where most plea bargaining takes place. Pre-trials present the first real opportunity to meet with the prosecution and have substantive settlement discussions. You should not attempt this without a qualified Massachusetts DWI lawyer. If a deal is reached, the court is notified and it is advisable to present it to the judge and have the case wrapped up that day. This usually allows DUI first offenders to get a hardship license within a few days.
If the case is going to trial, motions may be filed to exclude or suppress statements and other evidence. If this happens, then suppression hearings are usually held. Also, motions to dismiss certain charges can sometimes be filed.
After hearings on discovery, suppression, and sometimes dismissal motions, the DUI case is ready for a compliance and election date. This event is where any final issues will be addressed and the prosecution and defense will select a trial date. The court will want to get an idea of how many witnesses each side will have and roughly how much time is needed for the DWI trial.
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