Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney

The Law Offices of Jason S. Newcombe

Call now for a free consultation

(206) 624-3644

(425) 455-2040

(253) 852-1661

In all Seattle Municipal and King County criminal cases, the city or the county is required to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Additionally, all defendants have the right to an attorney at all court hearings. If you are a criminal defendant and cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the municipal court in which you are appearing will refer you for a screening to determine if qualify for the appointment of a public defender. If you are a defendant in a Seattle Municipal Court or a King County criminal case, you must appear at all scheduled hearings or a warrant will be issued for arrest.

If you have been cited to appear in the Seattle Municipal Court or a King County District Court for a criminal matter, you are either being charged with a misdemeanor or a gross misdemeanor.  If you ave been ordered to appear in King County Superior Court, you are being charged with one or more felonies.  You should also know that at the time a King County Superior Court issues a Notice to Appear for Arraignment it also simultaneously issues a warrant and set bail.  This means that you will be arrested if you are stopped by the police even though this may be your first offense and you have never missed a court date.

The Seattle Municipal Court and the King County District Courts do not have jurisdiction over felony cases.  This is why you know that you are being charged with a criminal misdemeanor if your arraignment is in one of these courts.  If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If you are charged with a gross misdemeanor, you are facing a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.  Most misdemeanors, with a few exceptions for charges such as DUI or Possession of Marijuana, do not carry a mandatory jail sentence.

There are several King County District Court locations.  The King County District Courts are located in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Burien, Kent, Shoreline and Vashon Island.  Our attorneys handle all Seattle Municipal and King County District Court criminal matters, including but not limited to the following:

Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving)
Minor Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (Minor DUI/Minor DWI/Minor Drunk Driving)
Hit & Run Attended
Hit & Run Unattended
Driving While License Suspended (DWLS)
Minor in Possession of Alcohol
Disorderly Conduct
Possession of Marijuana
Reckless Driving
Negligent Driving
Reckless Endangerment
Assault IV
Assault IV - Domestic Violence
Harassment
Harassment - Domestic Violence
Malicious Mischief
Malicious Mischief - Domestic Violence
Protection and No Contact Order Violations
All Degrees of Theft (Shoplifting)
All Degrees of Criminal Trespass
All Fraud and Forgery Charges
Prostitution and Solicitation
All other Misdemeanors and Gross Misdemeanors.  We also handle many felony matters.