If you are about to appear before a judge and jury in relation to a driving under the influence (DUI) charge, being prepared should help you to be more relaxed and avoid making embarrassing mistakes. Read on to find out more.

Circle the Date: It's vital to appear on the right date and at the right time. You are risking an arrest for not appearing unless you have a very good excuse. Speak to your criminal defense lawyer prior to the day and know where to go, where to park, and where you should plan to meet. Be sure to add some extra time for getting through the security checkpoint. If several trials are in session, things can get very backed up.

Know What to Expect: There are some general rules about what not to do and what you should definitely do in a courtroom. How to address the judge, standing when being addressed, what to wear, and so on are all important aspects of how you appear to the judge and jury. However, your criminal defense attorney is also uniquely qualified to provide some tips about specifics. Some judges run their courtrooms differently. It pays to know, for instance, that the judge that is hearing your case likes it when clients dress up a bit more. 

Know Your Case: In many cases, defendants have a fat stack of paperwork relating to their case by the time the trial comes around. Look through everything you have and discuss any questionable issues with your lawyer. You should be clear about the events of the DUI stop and arrest, including the details. For example, be sure to refresh your memory of the stop by re-reading the arrest report.

Know Your Defense: You likely have a very competent defense attorney to help you with your case. Good defense attorneys usually have a defense strategy. They know, for example, where the state's evidence is weak and where their own case may be weak. Discuss with your lawyer how they intend to fight the charges. Knowing this will help you when you take the stand in your own defense and even if you decide not to. For example, challenging the state's evidence is a common move for defense attorneys. That is because the state frequently has weak DUI evidence that can be easily challenged.

To find out more, speak to a DUI attorney for help.