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What plea should I enter at my arraignment?
Anonymous3 views2 answers
I imagine I am guilty but I don't feel I should go to jail because of my Bipolar disorder being the route cause of the problem. Im not even sure what I'm being charge with, but apparently I ran into 2 cars and then crashed into the brick wall of a middle school. I was having severe anxiety because of my bipolar disorder and I had just moved into a new house and was fighting with my fiance. I have a lot of Valium in my system because I take it for anxiety problems and I was feeling terrible. I don't remember doing this because I had an anxiety attack in the car and blacked out. My fiance said I was suicidal but I don't remember it because I was having a huge bipolar episode and I only remember small bits of the previous days. the cop said i told him i crashed my car on purpose. i dont reme
I am assuming the Arraignment is in Bucks County. The judge will automatically enter a plea of not guilty for everyone. The Arraignment is a procedural hearing in which you are given paperwork. All you have to do is stand up when they call your name and the judge will give everyone a speech about coming back to court on your trial date and also to retain a lawyer to help you.
In Bucks, lawyers are allowed to waive the hearing so you would not have to appear. You should speak with a local lawyer as soon as possible - you should NOT go to court by yourself.
Ellis Klein, Esquire
215-639-5297
Young, Klein and Associates
www.ykacrim.com
Offices in Bensalem and Doylestown
I agree that you should get a lawyer before going to court, if possible. If you cannot afford one, you will have to ask the court to provide one for you. In MA, you would be interviewed by the probation department, to get your particulars and identitity information, and then (if you didn't have retained counsel) to determine whether or not you qualified for a public defender. The public defender would be appointed after the automatic NOT guilty plea entered. Under no circumstances should you discuss the case with anybody except your lawyer; this includes your fiance. (A possible exception is your shrink, if necessary for your present health needs and treatment, but still try to avoid the issue of your arrest, as far as possible.
The arraignments' main purpose is to inform you of the charges against you, generally both verbally and by giving you (or your lawyer) a copy of the complaint. You need say nothing except your name and, if asked, NOT guilty. "Good morning, your honor" if the judge wishes you the same, first, maybe.
Since you don't know what you are charged with you can't possibly know if you actually did what that particular aw forbids. Furtherore, you remember nothing, and may have a medical defense or one involving lack of a mens rea (bad intent), if intent is an element of what you are charged with. You need a lawyer's advice and advocacyeven more than the average defendant due to your bipolar and anxiety issues. However, do not post more specifics on this site, do not talk about your illness (which may be a part of your defense) or your medication (which may be an element of the crime you are accused of, operating under the influence of drugs, for example) or anything else except with your lawyer.
