Is being in the hospital a good excuse for missing a court
date in Utah?
In a Utah criminal case, the judge will typically expect the defendant
to appear in person at every court date. If a defendant does
not appear at a scheduled court hearing without permission from the
court, a judge will issue a bench warrant for the defendant's arrest,
and the defendant could be held in custody during the remainder of the
time the case is pending.
If you do miss a court date, you should be prepared to provide a good
explanation as to why you did not appear in court. Being in
the hospital can be a good excuse for missing court, depending on the
reason you were in the hospital. Many judges will require you
to provide proof that you were in the hospital, as well as an
explanation as to reason it was medically necessary for you to be
hospitalized at that particular time. Just saying "I was at
the hospital" does not automatically excuse your failure to appear.
If you have missed a court appearance or believe that you may have an
outstanding
bench warrant, an experienced criminal defense attorney can
help you resolve your legal problems. Stephen Howard is a
Utah criminal defense attorney
based in Salt Lake City. He has successfully handled
literally thousands of serious criminal charges - more than most Utah
attorneys will see in their entire careers.
Contact us now to
schedule an initial consultation.
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