Did you receive a citation and have to be present in Courtroom 101 in the Wake County Justice Center? This courtroom, also known as Disposition Court, runs from 7:45 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon. That does NOT mean you have to be present at 7:45 a.m. Rather, you just need to make sure you are there before 3:30. Realistically, you should not arrive much after 3:oo p.m., otherwise the courtroom may close before you have a chance to handle your citation.
When you enter 101, get in the first line and check in with the clerk by using your identification or a copy of your citation. Do not be scared of them — they are very friendly! You will then be directed to one of two lines: if you need to be read your rights to an attorney (depending on your charge), you will be directed to the magistrate judge line. Here, you will find out if you are eligible for a court-appointed attorney. The other line is the District Attorney line. In this line, you will speak to an Assistant District Attorney about your charge. You will decide what to do with it that day or ask for a continuance. Keep in mind the ADA cannot and will not provide you legal advice.
If you are not sure if you are supposed to be in Courtroom 101, do not risk it — go check with a clerk in Room 1000 or go to the court website to check.
If you have a citation in Wake County, contact the experienced attorneys at Guirguis Law at rita@guirguislaw.com for more information on how we can help you.