Here at Reynolds Defense Firm, we specialize in Oregon DUII defense, but these guidelines are a good starting point for anyone dealing with a criminal allegation:

• Do not delay in seeking qualified legal representation. There can be significant advantages to retaining a lawyer sooner than later, and there are many ways to hurt your case by waiting.
• Get organized. Take notes when you meet with your legal team, both to make sure to get your questions answered and to help you remember any actionable advice.
• Understand the culture. Make sure you are advised about proper court etiquette and attire in advance.
• Show up early. Most courthouses have security lines, and you want to give yourself plenty of time in case you have trouble finding the right courtroom.

An anecdote from our founder, Dan Reynolds:

There’s no pausing live tv when you’re in front of the judge. My son asked me recently if we could ‘pause’ our conversation the other day. Turns out he wanted to get a snack and then pick our conversation back up when he returned. I guess he figured that since the pause button works on the TV remote, why not in a conversation? Since he asked politely, I said ‘sure’ and he went off to raid the refrigerator, but that got me thinking.

I think technology can give us into a false sense of security when it comes to paying attention. Our sense of urgency can be dulled, because we know that if we miss something ‘important,’ we can just rewind and pay better attention the next time. That automatic ‘do-over’ can come in pretty handy, but that luxury doesn’t apply to the courtroom setting, as much as some people may wish otherwise.

That is why it is so important to have the right legal representation when you’ve been arrested for a DUII. When you face a judge, there isn’t a ‘pause’ button. What happens in that courtroom will impact your life, for better or worse, and if someone I believe in is in that situation, I would want to do all I could to stack the odds in his or her favor.

And that is why Reynolds Defense Firm is so specialized – to be the absolute best we can be in the one area of law that our clients hire us for – DUI defense.  I hope you never need to call us, but if you or someone you believe in needs help, please do contact us right away.