Consequences of Failure to Appear in Arizona
By Law Offices of Joshua S. Davidson, PLC | Dec 14, 2016
If you’ve ever been arrested for
driving under the influence (DUI), called to jury duty, or asked to be a witness for any type of court proceeding, you probably saw a court date listed on the document, which indicates that your presence at that date and time listed is required.
No Exceptions or Excuses Accepted
If you’re thinking, “But I didn’t schedule a court date.” Well, that’s because court dates are determined by the court and they are based on the court’s schedule, not yours. Even if you’re supposed to be at work during that day and time, or even if you’re supposed to be on vacation, you still have to put your plans on hold so you can attend the court proceeding.
Contact Law Offices of Joshua S. Davidson, PLC for your free consultation.
What Happens If You Don’t Show Up To Court?
It is against the law for you to not show up at your scheduled court appearance, especially if it’s a criminal hearing. If you fail to attend your court hearing, you will be charged with “failure to appear,” a separate criminal offense under Arizona law.
Failure to Appear Arizona
Depending on the nature of your original charge, failure to appear may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. For example, if you’re facing felony charges and fail to appear at a court hearing, you’ll face thousands in fines and imprisonment on the failure to appear charge, a felony.
The court does not sympathize with criminal defendants who miss their court dates. In fact, Arizona judges consider it a serious offense and are quick to issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest and impose harsh penalties on defendants who are found guilty of failing to appear.
The judge won’t care if you had to work, your car broke down, you were caught in traffic, or your wife was in the hospital having your first born – and the judge won’t accept forgetfulness as an excuse either.
What Are The Legal Consequences of Missing a Court Date?
In Arizona, that depends on whether you’re original charge is for a misdemeanor or a felony. If you’re facing felony charges, your penalties will be more severe than if you were facing misdemeanor charges.
Failure to appear in the first degree:
- You commit failure to appear in the first degree if your failure to appear was in connection to a felony. Under ARS 13-2507, failure to appear in the first degree is a Class 5 felony.
Failure to appear in the second degree:
- You commit failure to appear in the second degree if your failure to appear in court was in connection to a misdemeanor offense. Under ARS 13-2506, failure to appear in the second degree is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Act Now, Schedule Your Free Consultation!
If you missed a court appearance, there is likely a warrant out for your arrest and your driver’s license is probably suspended. Unfortunately, warrants don’t just “go away.” In fact, they can stick for decades and they can pop up one day when you think the courts have long forgotten about them.
If you missed a court appearance, contact the Law Offices of Joshua S. Davidson, PLC. Attorney Davidson is a former Maricopa County prosecutor who can advise you on what to do next. We offer free case evaluations so you can get your questions answered right away.
