Make the judge smile, and get a better DUI sentence

On a yearly basis, I stand before 100's of different judges on drunk driving cases.  For clients who are able to work out great deals with the prosecutor, we eventually end up before a judge for sentencing.  Clients have similar goals: save their license and avoid jail, but many fail to realize other potential goals and differences in sentence.

A judge can sentence a client up to 24 months of probation and up to 5 years in prison for a third offense, one year for a second offense, and 93 or 180 days for first time offenses.  The probation term can carry many terms such as counseling, community service, programs, fines, costs, testing etc.  The sky is the limit with what a judge can throw at you for probation.  And if you violate that probation, you're likely to go to jail.

I educate my clients on potential sentence outcomes, and we're proactive from day one.  When I sit in court with clients, and we're able to observe other cases before us, it's shocking the difference between what my clients receive, and what non-clients receive.  I don't have a magic wand, but I do have a plan on day one.  

I've watched cases with similar "deals" receive 18-24 months probation with alcohol tethers, jail, intensive probation, hundreds of hours of community service, crazy fines/costs and probation fees.  My client gets nervous that the same thing is coming for them; I assure my clients that they are prepared and ready to make a great impression on the judge.

When we approach the podium I begin to educate the judge on what my client has already accomplished since the incident.  The most common reaction is a smile from the judge, a bunch of nodding in our direction and an open mind to our requests.  In the end, the client receives a much more favorable sentence and limits the window of time where they will be under court supervision.  Heck, some clients don't even receive probation for a drunk driving case in Michigan, which blows people away when I update them on past results.  

Make it a goal to make the judge smile, and you'll be a lot less stressed about your case and your future.