Failure to Appear in Court

When involved in a civil or criminal case, you make a promise to appear in court at a certain place and time. Failing to show up for your hearing, traffic court, or jury duty can all result in costly penalties. It is therefore important to always keep track of your appointments for court and schedule other obligations around these days and times. Avoiding the court can only make matters worse, and simply forgetting to show up can be an expensive mistake.

Missing Traffic Court or Jury Duty

Failing to appear for traffic court or jury duty is a violation of the law. Even if you are confident that you will be found not guilty or that your case will be dismissed, you have an obligation to be present for your hearing or jury services. In either case a bench warrant may be issued for your arrest, and you may be obligated to pay fines for missing your date. Additionally, missing traffic court may lead to a temporary driver’s license suspension.

Missing a Criminal Hearing

If you have been charged with a crime and fail to appear before the court for your hearing or trial, you will likely face harsher penalties. The court may issue a warrant for your arrest and you could be jailed. For more serious criminal charges, you may be held in jail without bail until your trial has ended. For less serious charges, the judge may set a bail that you must pay before you can be released. In addition to arrest and jail time, a defendant who misses a criminal hearing may be ordered to pay a fine.

Contact Us

To learn more about the failure to appear offense and how it could affect your case, contact the West Palm Beach criminal attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today at 561-353-2800.