Your Best Defense
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:27AM 
If you didn’t get a private lawyer, and you are turned down for the public defender, most judges will give you additional time to seek a defense attorney to represent you.
Ask the judge for extra time, but not more than once, or the judge might think you are purposely delaying the case. The judge will also ask you for your defense (your “plea”). Say you’d like to speak to a lawyer first, nothing else.
Attorneys typically plead you “not guilty” on the first court date so they can study your case, the police reports and other scientific records.
The police viewpoint is that you’re already guilty, but the judge knows different. That’s why the judge will tell you to get a lawyer.
Many cases are settled prior to a trial for a reduction of charges. Sometimes the police discover they are mistaken, or their testing equipment has been poorly maintained. Attorneys who routinely defend people accused of DUI are skilled at finding the best defense.