Is it possible that my DUI case may end up in a trial?
It is possible that your DUI case may end up in trial. There are only three possibilities as to what can happen to your DUI prosecution. One is that the case could be dismissed, and that would be ideal. The other is that there is some sort of a plea bargain, where you agree to plead either to a DUI or to some lesser offense, and that's a deal that is struck with the prosecutor. If the case is not dismissed, and a deal cannot be struck, then your case will go to trial. Some states have jury trials, like you see on TV, for DUIs, where 12 members of the community are brought in to hear all the evidence and make the decision. Other states, such as Nevada, for example, no longer have jury trials in DUI cases, but have only court trials, where the trial takes place in front of a judge, and the judge makes the decision. Either way, whether it's a jury trial or a court trial, a verdict will ultimately be rendered by the jury or by the judge, and it will either be guilty or not guilty. If the verdict is guilty, then you will be convicted of DUI and you may face consequences even stiffer than you would have gotten from a plea bargain, because you went to trial. On the other hand, if the verdict is not guilty, then you will be acquitted, you will be exonerated, the case will be dismissed, and you will have been vindicated. So it really isn't all or nothing at that point. If you are charged with DUI, after thoroughly analyzing you case, what you'll want to do is sit down with your attorney, and weigh the probability of winning versus losing and make a very educated decision about whether or not you want to go to jury trial or court trial.
