DUI / OVI, CRIMINAL & TRAFFIC ATTORNEY
SHAWNEE HILLS MAYOR’S COURT
The Village of Shawnee Hills is a small community near Columbus, Ohio. The population of Shawnee Hills is only a little under 700 people. The community was founded in the 1920’s as a resort fishing community on the O’shaughnessy Reservoir of the Scioto River. Despite its small size, however, Shawnee Hills does have its own police department, which is supported as well by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the biggest weekends for the Shawnee Hills police department is the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. In fact, just last year, two OSU Buckeye football players were arrested by Shawnee Hills police officers in the vicinity of the Bogey Inn during the weekend of the Memorial Tournament. With thousands of people descending on Dublin and Muirfield for the Memorial Tournament (and this year as well for the President’s Cup), encounters with the police abound, particularly as spectators continue the party into the evening hours.
As a result, both the Dublin Mayor’s Court and the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court see many post-Memorial Tournament revelers who have been arrested for a variety of misdemeanor and traffic offenses, including:
- Assault
- Criminal damaging
- Disorderly conduct
- DUI / OVI
- Hit / skip
- Obstruction of official business
- Physical control
- Public intoxication
- Public urination
- Speeding
- Theft
- Traffic offenses
If you or a friend or family member is faced with an OVI, traffic, speeding or other criminal charge in Shawnee Hills, contacting an experienced Ohio attorney is essential. For example, if you hire us to handle your case, we will examine all aspects of your OVI, speeding or criminal case to determine whether the arresting officer properly followed all of the proper protocols. In the case of an OVI, for example, we would examine whether the officer issued all required warnings, properly administered all of the roadside field sobriety tests, and performed the search, tests and arrest lawfully.
At Riddell Law, we have extensive experience representing clients faced with DUI, OVI and other criminal charges in jury trials, bench trials and motion hearings. We represent clients facing drunk driving, traffic and criminal charges throughout Central Ohio, including in the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court, in cases ranging from speeding to first-time 1st offense OVI offenses to repeat drunk driving offenses as well as felony DUI cases that can carry significant penalties, including jail or prison time.
SHAWNEE HILLS, OHIO MAYOR’S COURT
If you have been charged with a DUI / OVI, traffic offense, speeding offense or other criminal charge in Shawnee Hills, Ohio, your case may be filed in the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court. The Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court hears traffic cases and other misdemeanor charges that occurred in Shawnee Hills, including DUI / OVI cases.
There are both pros and cons to having your case heard in the the Mayor’s Court, depending on your specific situation. For example, Ohio Mayor’s Courts, including the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court, are not courts of record and are not authorized to conduct jury trials. However, if a defendant charged with a DUI or criminal offense in Shawnee Hills would like a jury to hear his or her case, then your attorney can assist you with transferring the case to the Delaware County Municipal Court.
In fact, a defendant can opt to transfer his or her case to the Delaware County Municipal Court at any time for any reason. Further, if a defendant is convicted in the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court, he or she may appeal their conviction to the Delaware County Municipal Court.
There may be some advantages, however, to having your case heard in the Mayor’s Court. For example, a hearing in mayor’s court is generally more informal, may have evening hours, and may be more conveniently located than the Delaware County Municipal Court. For example, the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court is in session alternating Wednesdays beginning at 4:30 PM. Consulting with an experienced Ohio DUI, traffic or criminal defense attorney on this issue is critical to ensure the best possible outcome given the circumstances of your case.
Typically, if you hire Riddell Law as your attorney, we will consult with you and advise whether it is best based on the facts of your case to have your case heard in the Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court, or to transfer the case to the Delaware County Municipal Court.
Once we make this decision, Mr. Riddell will likely arrange it so that you do not have to appear in court for your first court date. He will handle it for you. This way, you do not have to worry about taking off work, traveling to Columbus if you live out of town, or otherwise arranging your schedule to go to court. After that first court appearance (which is called your “arraignment”), Mr. Riddell will continue to gather information about the facts of your case, evaluate possible flaws in the prosecution’s case, and negotiate with the prosecutor for a favorable resolution of your case. If negotiations fail, Attorney Doug Riddell will conduct motion hearings and a trial as necessary to ensure the best possible outcome.
To begin the process and discuss representation for your Shawnee Hills, Ohio DUI / OVI, speeding, traffic or criminal charge, call Attorney Doug Riddell directly at 614-361-2804. Because we know DUI and criminal charges rarely happen during 9:00-5:00 working hours, we are there to take your call after hours, on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
The Shawnee Hills Mayor’s Court is located at 36 W. Mohawk in Shawnee Hills, Ohio.
