Criminal Defense Attorney in Gainesville & Hall County, GA

Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County, and criminal cases from across the county, from Flowery Branch and Oakwood to Lula and Clermont, are heard at the Hall County Courthouse, 225 Green Street SE in downtown Gainesville. The District Attorney’s office is located in the same building.

Hall County is part of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Dawson County. The same District Attorney’s office prosecutes felonies in the Superior Courts of both counties, so familiarity with how that office approaches charging decisions and plea offers carries over between the two. Misdemeanors and many traffic charges in Hall County are handled in State Court, and the circuit also operates accountability court programs that may offer an alternative path for some eligible defendants.

What Happens After an Arrest in Hall County

After an arrest in Hall County, the first court date is usually a first appearance hearing, where a judge explains the charges, considers bond and addresses the appointment of counsel. That hearing generally has to happen within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest and within 72 hours of an arrest on a warrant. When the charge is one of the serious felonies listed in Georgia’s bond statute, such as rape or drug trafficking, bond must be set by a Superior Court judge, which can take longer without an attorney pushing for a hearing.

Nearby Areas I Serve

I also represent clients throughout North Georgia, including Cumming and Forsyth County, Dawsonville and Dawson County and Dahlonega and Lumpkin County. Call (470) 505-9791 for a free, confidential consultation.