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Westerville Mayor’s Court | Criminal Defense Attorney

WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT

DUI, CRIMINAL DEFENSE & TRAFFIC LAWYER

westerville mayors court attorney

If you have been charged with a DUI / OVI, traffic or criminal offense in Westerville, your case may have been filed in the Westerville Mayor’s Court.   Whether your charges are filed in Westerville or in the Franklin County Municipal Court will depend on who arrested you and where you were arrested.  

FAQS ABOUT THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT

WHEN IS THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT IN SESSION?

The Westerville Mayor’s Court is in session each Wednesday beginning at 9:00 AM.  Generally, pretrials and traffic and criminal arraignments begin at 9:00 AM.  Trials generally begin at 10:00 AM.   The Westerville Clerk’s office is open every day Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

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WHAT KIND OF CASES DOES YOUR LAW FIRM HANDLE IN THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT?

Our firm defends clients facing all types of criminal and traffic charges brought in Westerville.  Examples of a few of the charges we handle are listed below.  

Like many Ohio townships and municipalities, Westerville has its own set of ordinances (laws) that describe various crimes and the penalties if you are convicted.  The references to “Sections” below refer to the Westerville Ordinance section under which you might have been charged.

Westerville Mayor's Court DUI attorney entrance sign

  • Headlights, tail lights and other vehicle lights – Section 337.02-17
  • Turn signal – Section 337.31
  • Gift of marijuana (giving less than 20 g of marijuana to someone) – minor misdemeanor for first offense – Section 527.02
  • Hit / Skip

DO WESTERVILLE POLICE REALLY USE HELICOPTERS TO CATCH SPEEDING DRIVERS?

Westerville Police Department OVI lawyer sign
Yes.  Westerville has for the past several years cracked down on speeding and reckless drivers, particularly in the area of Polaris Parkway and Sunbury Road.  In fact, since 2010, Westerville has utilized aerial speeding enforcement to catch speeders.  In other words, they clock speeders from the air in a small private plane and radio the results to officers on the ground who then pull you over. 

 

DO YOU REPRESENT OTTERBEIN STUDENTS?

Yes.  We do and have represented many Otterbein students that have unfortunately come into contact with the law.  If you are a college student, there are special considerations to consider if you are facing a criminal charge.  For example, if you have been charged with marijuana possession, you could lose your federal student loans if you plead guilty — even though it is just a minor misdemeanor.  We work with you and with the Westerville prosecutor to make sure that your case has as little an impact as possible on your financial aid and future job prospects.  

CAN I HAVE A JURY TRIAL IN THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT?

No.  Under Ohio law, the Westerville Mayor’s Court is not a “court of record”, which means that it is not authorized to conduct jury trials.  If you want a jury to hear your case, you can transfer the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court, where they can convene a jury.

CAN I LOOK UP MY CASE ONLINE?

Yes.  The Westerville Mayor’s Court case lookup can be found here.  Just type in your name and you should be able to view the docket and details about your case.

 

I THINK I WAS WRONGLY CHARGED.  SHOULD JUST GO IN AND PLEAD “NO CONTEST?”  

No.  If you think you are innocent and want to fight your charge, do NOT plead no contest.  In almost every case, if you plead no contest, the judge will find you guilty almost immediately thereafter. 

If you would like more information on “no contest” pleas, take a look at our article “Should I Just Plead “No Contest?”

IF I DON’T LIKE THE RESULT I RECEIVED IN THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT, CAN I APPEAL?

Yes.  If you plead guilty in the Westerville Mayor’s Court and change your mind, you have 10 days from the date of your plea to appeal the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court.  At that point, your case basically starts over in the new court.  If you do not appeal within 10 days, you are probably stuck with your guilty plea and the consequences.  However, you should consult with an attorney about the specifics of your individual situation.  

DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY CASE HEARD IN THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT?

No.  In fact, you can opt to transfer or appeal your case to the Franklin County Municipal Court at any time for any reason.  Usually, whether you should have your case heard in the mayor’s court or transfer the case to the Franklin County Municipal Court is a strategic decision you should thoughtfully consider with your attorney.

Westerville DUI attorney - highway sign

There are both pros and cons to having your case heard in the Mayor’s Court, depending on your specific situation.   For example, a hearing in a mayor’s court is generally more informal and may be more conveniently located for you, depending on where you live and/or work.

IF I HIRE YOUR FIRM AS MY LAWYER FOR MY WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT CASE, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

First, we will have an initial free consultation either by phone or in person.  At that meeting, we will take a preliminary look at your case and you have the chance to decide whether or not you want us as your lawyer.  That first meeting is always at no cost to you.

If you do decide to hire us, we will arrange to appear on your behalf at your initial court appearance (which is called your “arraignment”).  Depending on the type of case, we will start preliminary negotiations with the Westerville prosecutor and begin gathering evidence in support of your defense.  

For example, if you have been charged with an OVI, we will review the video, the police report and any other evidence the prosecutor has against you.  We will evaluate possible flaws in the prosecution’s case and continue to negotiate for a favorable resolution of your case.  This includes in the case of a DUI the best possible options for reinstatement of your driver’s license and/or driving privileges. If negotiations fail, we will conduct motion hearings and a trial as necessary to ensure the best possible outcome.

Attorney Douglas Riddell explains more about the Westerville Mayor’s Court DUI procedure in the video below. 

I WANT A FREE CONSULTATION – WHO SHOULD I CALL?

To schedule your free initial consultation or to ask us any questions about possible issues regarding your case, call Attorney Doug Riddell directly at 614-361-2804. Because we know DUI, criminal and traffic charges rarely happen during 9:00-5:00 working hours, we are available to take your call after hours, on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

 

WHERE IS THE WESTERVILLE MAYOR’S COURT?

The mayor’s court is located at 21 S. State Street in Westerville, Ohio.  If you need directions, click on the map below.

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