Holladay Justice Court - Cottonwood Heights
The Holladay Municipal
Justice Court has jurisdiction over class B and C
misdemeanor
crimes that occur
within the borders of Holladay City, Utah. By agreement with the City
of Cottonwood Heights, the Holladay Justice Court also handles
misdemeanor crimes that occur in Cottonwood Heights.
Even a misdemeanor criminal conviction can have serious
consequences. If you
have been charged with a crime in Holladay or Cottonwood Heights,
contact Utah
criminal
defense lawyer
Stephen Howard now to arrange for a confidential attorney consultation.
Mr. Howard has successfully protected his clients rights in thousands
of serious felony and misdemeanor cases.
Defending Criminal Charges in the Holladay City Justice Court
The
first hearing for a misdemeanor criminal case in the Holladay Justice Court misdemeanor is
typically an arraignment. The court will ask you to enter a plea of guilty, no
contest, or not guilty at the arraignment hearing. As a general rule,
you should not enter a guilty plea or a no contest
plea in any criminal case without first consulting with a criminal
defense lawyer.
The Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure
provide that you cannot be required to enter a plea until you have had
an opportunity to consult with an attorney. Seeking counsel and advice
from an
experienced
criminal defense
attorney can be the most important step you take in defending against
criminal charges. If you have not obtained the assistance of an
attorney, it is almost always best to enter a not guilty plea. This
preserves your right to a
trial,
the right to obtain discovery, the opportunity to
negotiate
with the prosecutor for a potential resolution, and other important
constitutional and procedural rights that are associated with a
criminal charge.
Even if you do not intend to take your case
all the way to a jury trial, entering a not guilty plea and making a
formal jury demand will put you in a stronger position to negotiate the
best offer for your case. It preserves your opportunity to obtain full
discovery and do the necessary case analysis, both legal and factual.
It ensures that you will have the best opportunity to engage in
negotiations and determine the best strategy for defending your case.
By
entering a guilty plea at the arraignment hearing, you lose any
opportunity to negotiate or otherwise defend your rights in the case.
The only decision left for the court is punishment.
Prior to
appearing at an arraignment or any other court hearing, you should
secure the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Once
your attorney has obtained full discovery from the prosecutor and
conducted a full legal and factual analysis of the case, you and your
attorney can then develop a strategy designed to obtain the best
results for your case.
Criminal Jurisdiction in the Holladay Municipal Justice
Court
The
Holladay Justice Court has jurisdiction to hear criminal misdemeanor
and infraction charges that occur within the borders of the City of
Holladay. By agreement with the City of Cottonwood Heights, the
Holladay Municipal Justice Court also handles misdemeanor criminal
cases for Cottonwood Heights.
The jurisdiction of the Holladay Municipal Justice Court is limited to
class C and class B misdemeanor charges.
Felony
charges and class A misdemeanor cases must be handled in the district
court system.
"De novo" appeals from the justice court are also heard in the district
court.
Common
misdemeanor charges handled in the Holladay Justice Court include
domestic violence, DUI,
shoplifting, theft, marijuana possession,
possession of drug paraphernalia, assault, disorderly conduct, public
intoxication, minor
in possession (MIP), trespass, and traffic violations.
Penalties for Criminal Convictions in the Holladay Justice
Court
While
class C and class B misdemeanors are often considered to be low-level
criminal offenses, the penalties can still be serious. The Holladay
Justice Court can impose penalties of up to 180 days in jail for each
class B misdemeanor offense and 90 days in jail for each class C
misdemeanor. The court also has discretion to impose jail sentences
either consecutively (running back-to-back) or concurrently (running at
the same time).
A class B misdemeanor also carries a
potential fine (including surcharge) of up to $1,900. For a class C
misdemeanor, the court can impose a fine (including surcharge) of more
than $1,000.
In many cases, the court will suspend all or
part of the jail time and fine, and instead place the defendant on
probation. Probation can be supervised by a probation agency or may be
directly supervised by the court (sometimes referred to as
"unsupervised" probation).
Conditions
of probation
can include treatment or counseling, community service, electronic
monitoring, alcohol monitoring, drug testing, or other conditions
deemed appropriate by the court.
Consequences of a criminal
conviction can also extend beyond the courtroom. Some charges will
result in a driver license suspension. Other charges can cause a loss
of the right to carry a gun. Even relatively minor criminal convictions
can affect professional licensing or the ability to get a job.
In
addition to the immediate consequences of a conviction, some justice
court convictions can also serve as the basis for an enhancement of
later charges. Convictions can also affect a person's
expungement
eligibility.
Finding a Utah Criminal Lawyer for the Holladay Justice
Court

Even
a minor criminal charge can have serious consequences. If you have been
charged with a crime in the Holladay Justice Court or elsewhere in
Utah, you need an experienced
criminal
defense attorney on your side.
Choosing
the best criminal attorney can be a difficult process. But
making the right choice is worth the effort.
Based
in Salt Lake City, criminal attorney Stephen Howard has successfully
defended his clients' rights in thousands of serious felony and
misdemeanor cases. He offers legal services to clients facing
prosecution in the Holladay Justice Court and throughout all of Utah.
Contact us today to arrange
for an initial confidential attorney consultation.
RELATED CRIMINAL DEFENSE TOPICS