I am the victim. Can I bring my own attorney to the warrant application hearing?

That is entirely up to you. Some persons feel more comfortable hiring their own attorney and others simply cannot afford the cost. The judge conducting the hearing will be conducting a court of inquiry. Therefore, the judge will be asking a majority of questions if you do not hire your own attorney.

If a warrant is issued at this hearing, then a formal charging document will be filed. Thereafter, crime victims are represented by either an attorney with the District Attorney's office for felony offenses or a member of the Solicitor's office for misdemeanor offenses. However, until that charging document is filed, neither the District Attorney's office nor the Solicitor's office is present at a warrant application hearing.

Show All Answers

1. What is a warrant application hearing?
2. How can I apply for a criminal arrest warrant for an individual's arrest?
3. Can I just bring the police report to show what happened?
4. Can I just get the witness to sign an affidavit instead of coming to court?
5. Which witnesses should I bring to the warrant application hearing?
6. I am the victim. Can I call the accused to the witness stand to testify in the warrant application hearing?
7. What rules and rights apply to the warrant applicant and the accused at a warrant application hearing?
8. I am the accused. Can I apply for appointed counsel at this hearing?
9. What if I do not know the correct address for the accused in a warrant application hearing?
10. How can I find the correct address for the accused?
11. I am the victim. Can I bring my own attorney to the warrant application hearing?
12. What rules and rights apply to the warrant applicant and the accused at a warrant application hearing?