Review hearings occur in Seattle Municipal Court in two distinct situations.  Either the review date has been predetermined at the time of sentencing or other disposition in order for the court to track compliance with the conditions ordered by the Seattle Municipal Judge or the court has learned of violations of the conditions of sentencing and sets a hearing for the defendant to explain these violations.

The first instance is the most common kind of review in Seattle Municipal Court.  At the time of final disposition, whether that be a sentencing hearing, a deferred prosecution hearing or an agreement between the parties to continue the case for final dismissal or amendment of charge, the court will proactively set a review date.  In some instances, if the defendant is in total compliance, the court may waive his or her presence.  In other instances some judges in Seattle will require that the defendant appear regardless of compliance.  Make sure that your lawyer settles this issue at the time of the final disposition so that there is no future confusion.  If you do not appear when you are required to at the future hearing, a warrant of arrest will be issued for you, not your attorney.  Likewise, even if your presence is waived, but you know that you are not in compliance, you will need to appear at the future review date.

The other type of review hearing is not unique to Seattle Municipal Court.  Whenever a review date is set based upon an allegation of a new offense or if other conditions of the court have been violated, it is a very serious thing.  A finding  that such a violation has occurred often leads to the imposition of jail and other serious consequences.  If you have been given notice that the court has set a review in your case, contact a DUI attorney immediately.  If the review is in Seattle Municipal Court, make sure to contact a Seattle DUI lawyer who has experience in this court right away.

For more information on DUI related review hearings see Washington DUI Review Hearings.