Home » Legal Questions » Need Attorney for Criminal Defense in St. Clair Shores, Michigan for Drunk Driving / State Bar Character & Fitness Questions / Law Student
I need a good St. Clair Shores criminal defense attorney for a drunk driving charge I recently received my first drunk driving in Michigan while leaving a Halloween party with my friends in St. Clair Shores. As a current law student, what can be done to ensure that this drunk driving charge stays off my record? Also, will I have to report this offense to Michigan’s Character and Fitness upon my completion of the J.D. program?
Wow that sucks! Will you get in trouble for that with the law school?
First, you must have complete candor when facing the State Bar Character & Fitness board. Regardless whether your case is dismissed or not, Canu Torrice Law believes that you should disclose this arrest and charge of drunk driving after you graduate law school to Character & Fitness. You may also want to speak with a law school adviser to see if you are required to dsiclose this charge and/or conviction to the law school itself. Not only is it the honest and ethical thing to do, but even if your case is dismissed outright whether through a plea bargain, motion or at trial, the criminal record of your arrest will still appear, and a drunk driving charge can be inferred because your Michigan driving record with Secretary of State will always reflect that a “625g permit” was issued – that’s the piece of paper the police gave you that says Michigan temporary driving permit which was issued after they took your original Michigan driver’s license, which only happens in arrests for drunk driving/OWI/DUI or operating under the influence of drugs (OUID).
This is not the end of the world for your legal career though so don’t freak out. There are many attorneys with drunk driving/OWI/DUI convictions in Michigan who are currently practicing law every day, so don’t lose faith. However, if you try to hide this charge or conviction from Character & Fitness it probably won’t work, and most importantly you may not ever be practicing law. The most important thing to do is obtain qualified legal counsel immediately, and that’s where Canu Torrice Law can help.
Regarding the merits of your case, Canu Torrice Law has had great success defending drunk driving cases in the 40th Judicial Distict Court in St. Clair Shores and all of Macomb County, Michigan. There are several defenses to a drunk driving charge that the Michigan criminal defense explore in every client’s case. However, drunk driving cases are extremely time sensitive and require immediate representation. Important evidence like video tape recordings from the police squad car often times get erased if too much time passes as there is no “law” that requires police to maintain this evidence. Subpoenas and discovery and Freedom of Infomation Act (FOIA) requests must be sent out immediately to the prosecutor and law enforcement agencies that may possess this evidence.
Every case is different, and fact specific, so before we can tell you what we can do in your situation you must come in for a free comnsultation as soon as possible.
PETER A. TORRICE
Canu Torrice Law
http://www.AllLegalMatters.com
(586) 285-1700