A bench warrant is issued by a judge when a defendant does not attend a mandatory court hearing. There may be many reasons for failing to appear beyond disregard for the law; perhaps you did not receive notification of your court date, had a valid excuse for missing it, or were confused about the legal system. No matter what the circumstances, having a bench warrant out for your arrest is a serious matter that cannot be avoided. Bench warrants follow you wherever you go, showing up on both background and driver’s license checks during traffic stops.

Waiting to be arrested is never the best option. Depending on the severity of your charge, once arrested you might face serious consequences such as jail time, expensive bonds, or court fines. Contacting a proactive defense attorney to help you resolve your bench warrant will put you in a more favorable light and show that you are not a flight risk.

The Marein & Bradley team has helped countless people resolve their outstanding bench warrants in favorable ways. We can discuss self-surrender options, negotiate with judges for more lenient bonds, and even submit motions to the court to withdraw warrants. If you have a warrant out for your arrest in Cleveland or surrounding Northeast Ohio communities, contact us.