Having a case heard in any type of court can worry individuals who are uncertain about what consequences will result. The Mountain Brook Municipal Court has the potential to penalize an individual with time in jail or significant fines, which is why it is important for an individual to take all possible steps to make sure that a case reaches the best possible conclusion.
There are some basic pieces of advice that individuals should make sure to follow when having a case heard in Mountain Brook Municipal Court which include arriving early on the day that a case is heard, dressing appropriately for the court, never bringing food or drink into the court, not using tobacco products inside the court building, and understand some basic information about how the Mountain Brook Municipal Court operates.
The Mountain Brook Municipal Court is located at 56 Church Street in Mountain Brook, Alabama on the same block as Mountain Brook Police Department and Mountain Brook Fire Department. The building where the court is located contains several administrative offices, which is why it is a wise idea for individuals who will have a case in the court to learn of the court’s exact location prior to the day that an individual is required to attend court.
The court’s office hours are from 8:00 am to 4:45 pm with the exception of Wednesdays. Except for the fifth Wednesday of the month and holidays, Mountain Brook Municipal Court holds Court at 4:00 pm on Wednesdays.
Mountain Brook Municipal Court offers a Defensive Driving School for individuals who have clean driving records. Individuals must be authorized by a judge to take these classes, which must be attended in person. Upon successful completion of Defensive Driving School, an individual’s motor vehicle citation is dismissed.
The Mountain Brook Municipal Court has the jurisdiction to hear a variety of cases including misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, and motor vehicle citations. The Mountain Brook Municipal Court has the authority to penalize individuals with fines, imprisonment, and labor among other types of violations.
Cases that are heard by a municipal court tend to follow a pattern. An individual first attends an arraignment. An arraignment refers to the act that occurs when criminal charges are read in the presence of an individual to inform the individual about the applicable charges. At an arraignment, an individual has the option of entering a plea of guilty or not guilty.
Individuals who plead guilty must then sign a document concerning the penalties that the individual will incur. After an arraignment has concluded, an individual who has pleaded not guilty will likely then attend a pretrial hearing. During the pretrial hearing, an individual’s attorney will attempt to negotiate matters with opposing legal counsel.
If an individual’s attorney is able to successfully negotiate matters with the individual’s clients, an individual’s case will likely conclude at that point. If a negotiation cannot be reached, then an individual’s case will proceed to trial.
Having a charge heard in front of the Mountain Brook Municipal Court can create uncertainty in an individual. One of the best steps that individuals can take in response to such an event is to retain the services of a top Birmingham attorney like those at Alabama Criminal Lawyers.
Contact Alabama Criminal Lawyers today at (205) 981-2450 for a free consultation.