On this page you will find general answers to common questions asked by defendants in criminal cases. Nothing contained on this page is intended as legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship between any person and this office. The information contained on this page is for reference purposes only and may not apply to your specific case. For specific answers to your questions you should contact an attorney.
WHO IS MY LAWYER?
The lawyer assigned to your case depends on up where our case is located, and the type of charges filed against you. You will be assigned a lawyer for the Office of Assigned Counsel, or you may be assigned a lawyer from the Saginaw Defender’s Office. Assignments should be made within 24 hours of your Arraignment. To found out which attorney has been assigned to your case, (989) 790-5207. Please wait 1 or two days after your Arraignment before calling.
The Saginaw Defender’s Office receives paperwork from the Court about 2 to 3 days after the Arraignment. The police reports are not part of the Court paperwork; the assigned lawyers must get the police reports from the prosecutor. The time frame for obtaining the police reports can be different from case to case, but usually at least the main police report' is received before your next court date, which is a Pre-trial Conference.
If you are in jail, your attorney should visit you before your next court date. If you are out on bond, you should call the office to discuss your case with your lawyer. If your lawyer is not available, please leave a telephone number where you may be reached. It is extremely important that you keep your lawyer updated with your current address and phone numbers from the beginning to the end of your case.
TIMELINE OF COURT DATES
Each misdemeanor case has a general timeline for how the case moves through the system. Usually, for a misdemeanor case, the timeline is:
Arraignment >>>> Pre-trial (approx. 1-2 weeks after Arraignment) >>>> Final Pre-Trial (approx. 2-4 weeks after Pre-trial) >>>>Jury Trial (approx. 1-2 weeks after Final Pre-Trial)