Steps in a Criminal Court Appearance in Pomona Courthouse
It might be interesting and helpful to explain how things go down if you or a loved one has a criminal appearance in the Pomona court. That way, you have a little walk-through before you go to court.
Sometimes, people can be very nervous going to court, not really knowing what's going to happen. So, I can give you a little walk-through and obviously give you an idea from an attorney's perspective of some of the things to look out for. You probably want to hire an attorney and let that attorney guide you through it.
But even if you have an attorney or you're going to hire someone like me to represent you or your loved one, it's still nice to have an idea of what's going to happen step-by-step.
Parking and Getting in Line to Enter Courthouse
First thing you arrive near the Pomona courthouse. You're looking for a parking spot. There's a big lot there that's a pay lot. So, you can just pay the money, go in there and park your car. Also, the surrounding lot has free parking.
You can just drive around. Make sure you look at the signs. I usually park in the free parking lot there. It's not that far from the courthouse, which you can walk into.
Once you arrive at the courthouse, you'll probably have to get in line. It's a busy courthouse covering some significant ground east of Los Angeles. So, you get in line. They'll have you go through a metal detector.
Obviously, you don't want to bring anything that can be characterized as a weapon, like scissors—you know, anything that they'll want to take away from you. That means you're going to have to leave it up there—anything with a pointed edge.
Any weapons. Not only will they take it away from you, the sheriffs are right there. You'll be arrested, and they'll charge you with a crime there. It's a pretty nasty, conservative court regarding criminal cases.
Reviewing the Board to Find Your Name
Once you pass the metal detector, there will be a board up there—which all the courts now have in Los Angeles County. It will have everybody's name in alphabetical order. It's like three TV screens.
So, you'll go up and find your name, or if you're appearing for somebody in custody, you'll see their name up there. Across from it will say which court their case will be in, and then you can go to the court.
All courthouses in Los Angeles County, including the Pomona court, are open to the public. You have to tell the bailiff who you are. The bailiff might want to know why you're in here. Just say you're here to watch.
Check-in With Bailiff
I have a family member here, or you can check in with the bailiff. Tell them you have a criminal case there today. They'll find you on their list, and then they'll tell you where they want you to sit inside the audience.
Suppose you have your attorney, which I highly suggest having. Pick up the phone if you've got a criminal case and need help. Give me a call. I've handled cases there now for 26 years.
So, you'll grab your seat in the audience, and eventually, your case will be called, and it will be dealt with. If you have an attorney and your attorney is there, those cases usually take priority over any other cases.
You'll be out of there relatively quickly if it's just a regular court appearance versus a preliminary hearing or the case is set for trial. Then it might take a little bit longer. If you've got the public defender, you may have to sit there a while because they've got other cases in other courts, they're busy, etc.
So, that kind of gives you an idea of the steps leading to going to court. Most of the time, the courts open between 8:30 and 9:00. Their central court used to open at 8:30, and they would issue bench warrants if you weren't there.
Get To Pomona Courthouse Early
As I write this post, and it's April 1, 2020, they're a little bit more lax than that, although that can change at any moment. So I always suggest getting up early, getting to the courthouse early, finding your parking spot, and getting in there even if you must sit outside the courtroom and wait.
It's so much more comfortable than trying to rush, struggling to park, or getting through traffic. Always leave early. I've been doing this for 26 years, and I always leave early for court because I want to make my life as smooth and easy as possible.
I want you to get there, get the parking spot, and get into the courthouse, and that way, you'll be ready to go. If you come in prepared, things will probably go much smoother than if you have to come struggling in late.
You risk the judge becoming angry and spotting that you came in late. Then, they might teach you a lesson and take you into custody. Pomona is just the courthouse that would do something like that.
So, if you've got a criminal case or one of your loved ones has a criminal case in the Pomona courthouse and you want some help, pick up the phone. Make the call. You'll be surprised how easy it is.
My officer manager, who has been with me for over 20 years, will probably be the one who talks to you first. He'll go over your case. Give you some insight, and then eventually, you'll speak to me over the phone, or we'll set up a face-to-face meeting. Then, we can review everything and develop a plan to take control of your case and get you out of the criminal justice system as quickly as possible.
