A conviction for OUI (also known as DUI, driving under the influence) can have severe consequences in a number of ways. From a long license loss and high fines to jail time and being marked as a convicted felon, the punishment can upend an entire life. This is why it is important to hire a knowledgeable criminal defense/OUI lawyer who has both the legal skills as well as the scientific background needed to defend your case.

An OUI attorney can help you avoid the steep penalties that come with a conviction. They can review the evidence against you and file motions to suppress or weaken the prosecution’s case. They can also argue that the officer lacked probable cause to stop you in the first place, or that the field sobriety tests were unreliable.

The first step in an OUI case is arraignment. This will happen in Portland unified court, Bridgton district court, or West Bath district court. At this point the Prosecutor and the defense will meet for a dispositional conference to discuss whether a negotiated resolution can be reached. They may also schedule a motion hearing to have more discovery.

If a negotiated resolution cannot be reached, the case will go to trial. This will happen around two weeks after the dispositional conference and a motion hearing. During this time the jury will be selected. An OUI trial lasts one or two days in Portland, depending on the number of witnesses and complexity of the case.