What to Do if You Miss a Court Date in Philadelphia

What to Do if You Miss a Court Date in Philadelphia

Missing a court date can be a scary situation. You may be worried about getting arrested, paying fines, or having a warrant issued for your arrest. But don’t panic! There are steps you can take to address the situation.

Get Legal Advice

First things first – talk to a lawyer. A criminal defense attorney can look at the specifics of your case, determine if a warrant has actually been issued, and begin to take steps to remedy the situation. They may be able to get the warrant lifted or recalled and reschedule your court date. Having a lawyer in your corner is crucial.

Find Out if There’s a Warrant

Your lawyer can look up in the court system whether a bench warrant has been issued for your arrest. There are generally two types of warrants – a normal bench warrant issued by the judge, or a judge-only warrant that only the judge who issued it can address. If you’re unsure whether you have an active warrant, a lawyer can easily check for you.

Get the Warrant Lifted

If there is a warrant, your attorney can file a motion to get it lifted or recalled. They may be able to convince the judge to withdraw it, particularly if you had a very good reason for missing court. Be prepared to provide documentation – for example, if you missed court for a medical emergency, bring medical records.

Turn Yourself In

If the warrant stands, you may have to turn yourself in to the authorities. Your lawyer can arrange for you to do this safely, and in many cases can arrange for you to be released on your own recognizance rather than having to post bail. Turning yourself in voluntarily looks far better to the judge than being arrested on the warrant.

Assert Your Defense

When you appear back in court, be prepared to present your defense for missing your date. The judge will want to know why you didn’t show up. Reasons like medical emergencies, car accidents, or not receiving proper notice of the court date can show the judge you did not willfully miss court. Your lawyer can help you craft your best defense.

Request a New Court Date

After addressing the warrant issue, your lawyer can request a new court date so your underlying case can proceed. Make sure you know when your new court date is and mark it clearly on your calendar!

Avoid Future Issues

Going forward, stay on top of your case to avoid further problems. Stay in touch with your lawyer, review all paperwork from the court, and mark court dates on your calendar. Set reminders on your phone. Only by being proactive can you avoid future hiccups.

Dealing with a missed court date can be upsetting, but it’s not the end of the world. With prompt action and legal guidance, you can get back on track. Don’t let fear of arrest prevent you from taking steps to remedy the situation. Know your options and act quickly!

Sources:

• What Happens When You Miss a Court Date in Pennsylvania? – The Fishman Firm
• What to Do if You Were Convicted for Not Showing up to Court in Philadelphia
• Missed court date? Lost touch with your Probation Officer? Connect with Probation and the Public Defender for help | Office of Criminal Justice | City of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia to Eliminate Unsubstantiated Criminal Debt – Talk Poverty
• Pa. Supreme Court orders counties to set aside undated and wrongly dated mail ballots and not count them – Philadelphia Inquirer
• Philadelphia’s exonerations call decades of police homicide investigations into question