Seattle Assault Attorney
Call Today! (206) 624-1662 Free Consultation and Case Analysis!
Seattle Assault / DV Attorney with over 25 years of Experience in Assault / DV and Criminal Defense Cases.
Hire an Effective Assault Lawyer Serving the Seattle Washington Area with Integrity and Compassion
Effectively helping clients through difficult times since 1986
Effective Assault Lawyer Serving the Greater Seattle Area
Have you been charged with Assault or DV in Seattle? In the event, you’re charged with Assault, or any other crime in Seattle, it can be a frightening experience that might result in serious consequences that negatively impact you both personally and professionally. Attorney Phil Weinberg is a Seattle Assault Attorney with over 25 years’ experience. He consistently obtains excellent results for his clients in and around Seattle, Washington. If you need effective legal representation for your Assault charge, call Phil at (206) 624-1662.
Protecting your rights and safeguarding your future! Don’t face an Assault or DV charge alone! Call Phil Weinberg for a thorough initial consultation at no cost.
Experienced Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney
Besides Seattle Assault cases Attorney Phil Weinberg works in a wide range of criminal defense areas. Hiring an accomplished lawyer to represent you is the first and most important step you must take if you’ve been charged with a crime in Seattle. Attorney Phil Weinberg will provide you with the personalized service and experienced legal representation you deserve. In fact, for over 25 years, Phil an experienced Seattle Attorney has been defending those accused of Assault, Domestic Violence / DV, Drunk Driving / DUI, and Drug- and Theft-Related Crimes in and around the Seattle area. Don’t wait, don’t delay – call (206) 624-1662 for immediate help. Having an experienced, tactful but relentless defense attorney on your side as soon as possible can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case.
Free Initial Consultation!
If you’re looking for experienced and effective legal representation for an Assault or other criminal charge call (206) 624-1662 to schedule your free initial consultation. Attorney Phil Weinberg will create an intelligent winning defense plan tailored to your unique situation.
Office: (206) 624-1662
Mobile/Text: (425) 367-1122
Email: phil@weinbergdui.com
About King County Courts & King County Arrests for Assault and Domestic Violence
There are three courts in Seattle: Seattle Municipal Court, King County District Court – West Division, Seattle Courthouse and King County Superior court. The King County Jail system currently serves all three of these courts and has locations in downtown Seattle and in Kent, at the King County Regional Justice Center – Maleng Regional Justice Center.
Seattle Municipal Court
The Seattle Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, infractions and civil violations. It enforces the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC), which is mostly similar (or in some provisions, identical) to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). If you’re arrested by a Seattle Police officer for Drunk Driving / DUI, it is likely your case will be heard at Seattle Municipal Court. This court is located at 600 5th Ave Seattle, WA 98104.
Seattle Police use various city precinct stations to breath test Drunk Driving / DUI suspects – or take them on telephonic search warrants to Harborview Medical Center in the case of blood testing. After being booked into the King County Jail, those accused will appear before a judge on the next court day. Arrestees booked on a Friday night, over the weekend or the day before or the day of a legal holiday must wait until the court reopens to appear before the court.
The King County District Court, West Division
The King County District Court West Division – Seattle Courthouse (aka “Seattle District Court”) has jurisdiction over State and King County cases. In fact, it also includes Seattle DUI arrests. Arrests made by a King County Sheriff or Washington State Trooper that result in misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor charges are handled by Seattle District Court. This court is located at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
The King County Superior Court
Finally, King County Superior Court primarily handles felony criminal offenses (as well as a multitude of non-criminal civil and family law cases,; including Seattle Felony Drunk Driving / DUI charges. King County Superior Court is located at 516 Third Avenue Seattle, WA 98104, in the same building as the Seattle District Court.
How it Works – the Stages of the Case
The first hearing is the arraignment, although some felonies have a first appearance that does not include arraignment if the State does not file its complaint within 72 hours after the arrest. The plea the accused enters at their arraignment should always be “Not Guilty” regardless of the facts and circumstances of your case. It means you are denying legal guilt, whether or not there is factual guilt, and unless you plead “Not Guilty” you’ll waive most if not all of your constitutional rights, criminal defense options and defenses.
The court will also set conditions of release at this arraignment hearing. Prosecutors often ask the judge to impose strict conditions such as setting a bail or entering a No-Contact Order (“NCO”), just as examples. An experienced King County / Seattle Assault defense attorney can usually effectively resist or at least greatly minimize these conditions, especially on first-time offenses. These defense techniques are generally not taught in law school, but can only be learned firsthand in the courtroom, through experience practicing law. It takes years of experience to understand how to effectively maneuver on the client’s behalf in this complicated and ever-changing legal system.
Next, there are Pretrial Conferences, also called Pretrial Hearings (aka “PTR”). Most cases have several PTR’s before they are eventually resolved by negotiation and then a plea deal or are set for trial. They generally occur 4-6 weeks apart. After a few of them, the court will often pressure the defense to conclude the case with a plea deal or go to trial. If a good and fair offer is presented by the prosecutor, the case can be disposed of by a plea deal (plea bargain) at a PTR. During this process, your defense attorney will be investigating your case and obtaining police reports, medical records, audio/video evidence from surveillance footage, officers’ body-cams, on-board patrol vehicle ‘dash cams’, premises surveillance video, interviews from witnesses, victims, experts and law enforcement officers (“LEO’s”) as well as any other evidence related to your case. The government does not always voluntarily provide all of the necessary evidence or all that we are entitled to receive, often requiring the attorney to file a motion to compel discovery.
Pretrial Motions
There are numerous pretrial motions that can have a significant impact on your defense – or even result in the dismissal of your case. A few common ones include motions to challenge probable cause (PC) for the arrest, whether statements made by the police, witnesses, alleged victim or the defendant are admissible, motions to compel or limit discovery and motions based upon violations of your Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel. Pretrial motions require extensive legal briefing and strategic planning to be successful. This includes preparing our witnesses including any expert witnesses. Many cases also require private investigation to expose the weaknesses of the government’s case.
Readiness Hearing & Trial
Less than 15% of the assault cases filed proceed to trial – the last resort due to the high risk and cost. You may choose to go to trial in the event the prosecution has not offered an agreeable plea deal, or if a conviction would be unacceptable or damaging to your career, citizenship status or personal life. Don’t defend yourself or pursue your defense or with an inexperienced attorney. Phil Weinberg has over 30 years of experience and has a wealth of tools and strategies, some unique and effective, to fight for you and battle the state for your case. Call Phil at (206) 624-1662. Do not delay. Evidence gets lost, memories fade. Act now in your own best interests by hiring the best legal help and defense for your King County assault charge of any degree, whether DV or non-DV. Call Phil Today for Immediate Help!