Criminal Traffic Violation Defendant Rights

Prior to going to trial, know what rights you have as a defendant.

You have the following rights:

• The right to a trial before a Justice of the Peace (judge), and in some cases, before a jury.
• The right to be represented by an attorney at all stages of the case. In some cases, if you are unable to pay for an attorney, the court may appoint an attorney for you. You will have to provide evidence that you are indigent or are unable to afford an attorney. The court may require that you contribute a reasonable amount towards attorney fees.
• The right to confront witnesses and cross-examine them as to the truthfulness of their testimony.
• The right to have subpoenas issued by the court at no cost to you to compel the attendance of witnesses.
• The right to remain silent and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The right to appeal. There is no right to appeal a guilty plea.