In Washington, DC, a bench warrant for failure to appear is often issued when someone misses their scheduled court date. If a warrant has been issued for your arrest, consulting an expert Washington DC criminal defense lawyer for a free consultation can help you understand your options and work toward resolving the matter efficiently.
What Does a ‘Failure to Appear’ Warrant Mean?
If you’re not held in jail while awaiting trial, you must sign a notice promising to appear and attend all scheduled court dates. Unless excused by the judge, your presence at each hearing is required. Missing a court date can prompt the judge to put out a Bench Warrant for your arrest.
The judge may set a bond amount for your release if you are arrested on the warrant or issue a no-bond Bench Warrant, which means no payment can secure your release if you are arrested.
When is a Bench Warrant Issued?
Bench Warrants are often issued when you miss a hearing you promised (by signing a written notice) to attend. Even if your attorney appears, the judge may issue a warrant unless you were explicitly excused in advance.
In the case of emergencies like a sudden illness, your lawyer can inform the judge and provide documentation to prevent the issuance of a Bench Warrant.
Failure to Appear and Bench Warrants in DC
A Bench warrant for failure to appear is commonly issued due to misunderstandings or forgetting a court date. This is especially true for people who live outside DC or abroad and face travel challenges.
Bench Warrants may also be issued if you cannot appear due to hospitalization or detention for another case. Suppose you’re on probation for a previous conviction and are accused of violating probation terms. In that case, the court may order you to appear for a Show Cause hearing. Missing this hearing can also lead to a Bench Warrant, even if you never signed a promise to appear (written notice) but were notified by mail or other communication (phone, text, email, etc.)
If you have an open bench warrant, it is imperative to immediately contact an elite, expert DC criminal defense attorney like Nabeel Kibria at Ervin Kibria Law.
An open bench warrant can lead to your arrest and detention during the course of something that usually doesn’t result in detention, like a traffic stop for a minor moving violation.