Fairfield County Municipal Court

Court Information

For nearly ten years, the Columbus Criminal defense team has been representing clients in the Fairfield County Municipal Court. During that time, we have successfully represented clients on charges ranging from OVI / DUI, to theft, drug possession and paraphernalia and most any other criminal charges as well.

Judges James A. Fields and David L. Landefeld, along with the City Prosecutor and a number of assistant prosecutors ensure that court affairs are run fairly and efficiently.

Court Process Information

When you are ticketed for a traffic offense or charged with a misdemeanor crime, you need someone to help you navigate Fairfield County Municipal Court. This is where your arraignment will take place, as well as any further court proceedings you must attend. If your misdemeanor charges go to trial, the trial will be held at the courthouse located at 136 W. Main Street, Lancaster, OH. If you are arrested for a felony, parts of your court process will take place at Fairfield County Municipal Court.

When facing a traffic or misdemeanor offense, you should have a skilled criminal defense lawyer by your side. Our attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates have the years of experience you need to aggressively and efficiently defend yourself. To discuss how we can help, and to learn more about the central Ohio court system, call us at (614) 500-3836. You can also request a free, initial consultation through our online form.

Fairfield County Municipal Court Information

The Fairfield County, Ohio courthouse is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays. You can reach the courthouse by calling (740) 687-6621. However, if you have questions regarding the traffic court or criminal court processes, we recommend calling an experienced Columbus criminal defense attorney.

The clerk of the court is Valeda Stone. Along with her staff of 15 deputy clerks and other staff members, the clerk’s office manages the administrative side of the court system. The clerk’s office is responsible for ensuring the efficient management of the municipal court, including properly filing court documents.

Criminal cases are presided over by Judges James A. Fields and David L. Landefeld. At Luftman, Heck & Associates, we are well-versed in Fairfield County’s court rules. We also understand how Judges Fields and Landefeld prefer to run their courtrooms. Our experience with these judges can be beneficial to you during your case. A criminal defense attorney without experience in these courtrooms can make mistakes that hurt your defense.

The Court Process

Your first court appearance for a misdemeanor offense is known as your arraignment. Whenever possible, you should have an arraignment lawyer with you at this time. During this court appearance, you will hear the charge against you. You also must enter your initial plea. You can plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. If you have yet to obtain an attorney before your arraignment, you can request a continuance to give you time to obtain representation.

This first court hearing is typically brief. However, it is also your attorney’s first opportunity to help you. At the arraignment, your attorney may approach argue to have your charges dismissed or reduced. Depending on the circumstances of your case, it may also be the first time a plea agreement is mentioned, though you can negotiate and accept a plea any time before a jury or judge reaches a verdict in your case.

Following an arraignment, your case will be assigned a judge and a trial date. If you went through your arraignment without a criminal defense attorney, you should hire legal representation for this court date. You will benefit from an attorney who will take pre-trial steps to help your defense and represent you at trial. When you are unfamiliar with the criminal court system, this is not something you should try to do yourself.

Your attorney will thoroughly investigate the charges against you and participate in discovery in order to obtain and review the evidence against you. Once your lawyer has all of the relevant information, you two will have a candid discussion about your options and the possible outcomes at trial. Depending on the facts of your case, your lawyer may recommend accepting a plea bargain. If you have a strong defense, then your lawyer may advise going to trial. The final decision is always up to you. If you want to defend yourself in court, your lawyer will vigorously prepare for trial.

Preparing to Appear in Fairfield County Municipal Court

When you are required to appear in court, you need to plan ahead. Make sure you have time off of work for the date of time of your hearing. If you care for your children during that time, find a family member, friend, or babysitter to watch them. If you are having trouble taking time off work or finding child care, call us at Luftman, Heck & Associates right away, and we will go over your options with you.

Days before your arraignment, confirm you have reliable transportation, you know where the arraignment takes place, and what time you need to leave your house or work. You should prepare to arrive at the courthouse early.

Dress well for the hearing. Casual clothing is not allowed, including shorts, short skirts, tank tops, tube tops, muscle shirts, or pajamas. We recommend not wearing jeans to court, though you do not need a formal suit. When one of our criminal defense attorneys represents you, we will thoroughly prepare you for how to dress in accordance with court rules.

Additionally, no weapons are allowed in the Fairfield County Municipal Court, or anything that can be used as a weapon. This includes guns, brass knuckles, knives, switchblades, lighters, explosive materials or devices, razors, and more.

Let Our Ohio Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You

At Luftman, Heck & Associates, our criminal defense attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of misdemeanor and felony cases. While we often represent individuals against criminal charges in Columbus, OH, we also represent individuals throughout Central Ohio and beyond. We handle traffic, misdemeanor, and felony cases in Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, Union, Delaware, Licking, and Franklin counties.

To learn more about fighting a traffic ticket or misdemeanor criminal charges in Fairfield County, contact Luftman, Heck & Associates online, or by calling (614) 500-3836.