Top Ranked Criminal Defense Lawyer for all Clarke County Criminal Cases

Athens-Clarke County

Athens - Clarke County is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs. With an ever increasing population, including the UGA student population, the police presence is always on high alert in Athens- Clarke County. With University of Georgia fans from all over the State of Georgia visiting, Athens - Clarke County is an extremely popular destination. As the police presence constantly increases, we are seeing more DUI alcohol, DUI drugs, DUI prescription medications and drug arrests. As a result, more people need information about misdemeanor or felony criminal defense in Clarke County,, including how to minimize or eliminate penalties, penalties, processes for Clarke County criminal cases, and effective defenses for their criminal charges.

First-time misdemeanor DUI charges are prosecuted in the Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County, with the possibility of transferring the case to the State Court of Clarke County to request a jury trial. Individuals charged with DUI that have previously been convicted of a DUI or arrested for a DUI in the previous 5 years are placed in the "fast track" system established in Athens, and as a result have their cases immediately transferred to the State Court of Clarke County by the Solicitor General with an arraignment date usually within two weeks of the arrest. Jason Slider handled one of the very first "fast track" cases when this system was first established. People that are placed in this "fast track" system are oftentimes presented with an option to participate in the DUI Drug Court and usually are faced with significant jail time if convicted of another DUI. The prosecutor looks at whether the DUI is a second or more in a five or ten year period of the other DUI and the facts of that case in determining the amount of confinement that they request from the Court following a conviction. Cases in the Municipal Court and the State Court are prosecuted by the Solicitor General of Clarke County.

Most drug cases in Athens are prosecuted by the District Attorney of Clarke County in the Superior Court of Clarke County before one of four Superior Court judges, since most drug cases, besides marijuana and prescription drugs not in the original container, are classified as felony offenses. Possible penalties for drug cases vary depending on the amount of drugs and whether a person is charged with possession, possession with intent to distribute, or drug trafficking. The penalty also varies depending on the type of drug and whether it is a Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V drug.

Domestic violence cases can be charged as misdemeanors that are prosecuted in the State Court of Clarke County or felonies that are prosecuted in the Superior Court of Clarke County. Whether a domestic violence case is a misdemeanor or felony can depend on the severity of the injury, whether a person has previous domestic violence convictions, or whether a TPO or bond condition was in place at the time of the offense. Either way domestic violence offenses can carry significant consequences, including the loss of certain rights.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Athens-Clarke County, contact our office today at (706) 208-1514. Jason Slider has over 20 years of experience handling criminal matters in Athens-Clarke County, having served as a law clerk for the State Court of Clarke County and then an assistant Solicitor General of Clarke County prior to entering private practice to handle criminal defense for all misdemeanor or felony Clarke County criminal cases.