317-632-3642

The Marc Lopez Law Firm defends clients in Marion County, Indiana every day. This post is intended to serve as an introduction to criminal charges in Marion County. 

The new Criminal Justice Center is located at 675 Justice Way off of Southeastern Avenue on the southeast side of the city and this is will you will attend your court hearings. As of today, there are no designated court rooms for criminal charges but you can assume your court room will be on floors 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. At the Criminal Justice Center, there are big screens with kiosks that will display the court room you will need to go to. It is advised that you arrive early to see what court room you will need to go to, and to ensure enough time to get through security.

Your first court date is what’s known as an initial hearing. At this hearing, the judge will recite the formal charges and go over your legal rights—including the right to an attorney and a jury trial, if you so choose. 

If you’re facing misdemeanor charges and you’ve already hired an attorney, there’s a good chance they can file to waive the initial hearing. Depending on which court you’re in, your next hearing will be scheduled as either a pre-trial conference or a bench trial. 

Odds are good that if you’ve been criminally charged in Marion County, you’re only going to need to appear in court a few times: for the initial hearing, for the pre-trial conference or bench trial, and then for the disposition date. This final date is where you either enter into a plea agreement or actually go to trial on the charges. 

In between these scheduled dates is where the real work happens. That’s when we’re gathering evidence, looking at what the State has, and negotiating with the prosecutor toward a favorable outcome. 

The Marc Lopez Law Firm never wants its clients suffering unnecessary stress worrying about court procedure. If you have any questions about your case or your next hearing in Marion County, give us a call at 317-632-3642 and remember—always plead the 5th!