Areas We Serve

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In America, you are innocent until proven guilty. This applies to DUI charges just as much as anything else. At Baker & Slider, LLC, we have the experience and skills you need to fight your case. We have extensive experience and a track record of success defending DUI cases in Athens - Clarke County. We also stay up to date on the latest cases and legal rulings.

Athens - Clarke County is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs. With game days and the student population in Athens, the police presence is always on high alert in Athens- Clarke County. With fans from all over the State of Georgia, Athens - Clarke County is an extremely popular destination. As the police presence increases, we are seeing more DUI checkpoints and more DUI arrests. Therefore, more people are being arrested and charged with DUI in Clarke County than ever before. As a result, more people need information about Clarke County DUI penalties, processes, and defense.

First-time misdemeanor DUI charges being in the Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County, with the possibility of transferring the case to the State Court of Clarke County to request a jury trial. Individuals charged with DUI that have previously been convicted of DUI are placed in the "fast track" system established in Athens, and their cases are immediately transferred to the State Court of Clarke County with an arraignment date usually within two weeks of the arrest. People that are placed in this "fast track" system are oftentimes presented with an option to participate in the DUI Drug Court and usually are faced with significant jail time if convicted of another DUI. The prosecutor looks at the recency of the other DUI and the facts of that case in determining the amount of confinement that they request from the Court following a conviction. Cases in the Municipal Court and the State Court are prosecuted by the Solicitor General of Clarke County.

A lot of traffic moves through Banks County. Furthermore, as the county and the cities it is home to see this traffic, they've stepped up police patrols and DUI checkpoints, and as a result, more people need information about Banks County DUI penalties and defenses.

Most DUIs in Banks County are prosecuted in the Banks County Probate Court. The exception is for cases involving a felony, like drug possession. If there is a felony charge, the case is prosecuted in the Banks County Superior Court by the District Attorney. Additionally, a defendant charged with only misdemeanor DUI has the right to transfer their case to the Banks County Superior Court to demand a trial by jury. Banks County shares a DA with Banks and Jackson counties. Therefore, drivers want an attorney who knows the area and people involved to make informed decisions about how to handle their case.

First-time misdemeanor DUI charges are either prosecuted in the Elberton City Municipal Court or the State Court of Elbert County, which prosecutes all misdemeanor offenses in the county. Cases in the State Court of Elbert County are prosecuted by the Solicitor General of Elbert County. Felony cases, such as many drug offenses, are prosecuted in the Superior Court of Elbert County by the Northern Circuit District Attorney.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office regularly patrols and aggressively enforces the traffic laws on the vehicles that travel along Interstate 85. This traffic law enforcement in the form of traffic stops oftentimes leads to seizures of individuals and searches of vehicles as law enforcement investigates for crimes such as DUI and drug possession. Furthermore, along with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, the Georgia State Patrol, City of Lavonia Police Department, Franklin Springs Police Department, and City of Royston Police Department patrol the local roads of Franklin County enforcing the criminal laws for the citizens of Franklin County and other individuals passing through.

Most Franklin County DUI cases start in the Probate Court of Franklin County, the City of Lavonia Municipal Court, or the Franklin Springs Municipal Court. The exception is for cases involving a felony, such as drug possession, or a DUI offense where an individual has requested a jury trial to determine whether they are guilty or not guilty of the offense. In either a DUI case where a jury trial is requested, a non-traffic misdemeanor offense, such as domestic violence, or a felony offense, such as drug possession or vehicular homicide, the case is handled in the Superior Court of Franklin County. Prosecution for DUIs in the Probate Court of Franklin County and for all charges in the Superior Court of Franklin County are handled by the District Attorney of Franklin County. Franklin County shares a DA with Oglethorpe County, Madison County, Hart County, and Elbert County. The DA and Superior Court judges are part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. This circuit covers Madison, Oglethorpe, Elbert, Hart, and Franklin Counties.

Jason Slider has been representing individuals charged with crimes, including DUI alcohol, DUI drugs, Possession of Drugs and Possession of Drugs with Intent to Distribute in Franklin County since 2007 and has successfully argued in front of a jury of citizens from Franklin County on behalf of his client. Individuals charged with crimes want an attorney who knows the area and the people involved to make informed decisions about how to handle their case. Jason Slider is familiar with the prosecutors in the county and understands what legal arguments to make in representing his clients. He is familiar with the DUI laws and vehicle search and seizure laws, which are often issues that arise following a traffic stop on the local roads or Interstate 85 as it passes through Franklin County.

DUIs in Greene County are often prosecuted in the Greene County Probate Court or the City of Greensboro Municipal Court. If an individual is charged with a felony DUI or another felony charge, the case is prosecuted by the District Attorney of Greene County in the Superior Court of Greene County. Greene County is part of the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit and the District Attorney of the Ocmulgee Circuit prosecutes felony and misdemeanor cases in Greene, Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Jones, Morgan, Putnam, and Wilkinson counties.

Police in Hall County are aggressive when it comes to handing out DUI charges and prosecutors are very diligent in their prosecution of these cases. Hall County also has a DUI/Drug Court program for repeat DUI offenders that are oftentimes utilized by prosecutors in their disposition of DUI cases. DUI cases in Hall County are prosecuted in the Hall County State Court and the City of Gainesville Municipal Court. In cases in the Hall County State Court, the Solicitor General prosecutes cases, and an individual is entitled to a jury trial for all misdemeanor charges. Cases prosecuted in the City of Gainesville Municipal Court need to be transferred to the Hall County State Court for a Defendant to have a trial by jury.

Many people drive through Jackson County on Interstate 85, Highway 441, and as they travel to Atlanta or Athens, Georgia. Moreover, it is home to plenty of UGA sports fans. Furthermore, as the county and the cities, it is home to see this traffic, they've stepped up police patrols and DUI checkpoints. Therefore, more people are being arrested and charged with DUI in Jackson County for both alcohol and drugs. As a result, more people need information about Jackson County DUI penalties, processes, and defense.

Jackson County has many individual city or municipal courts that handle DUI prosecution, however, municipal courts do not have authority to hold jury trials, and therefore a person charged with DUI always has the right to transfer the case to the Jackson County State Court to request a trial by jury. The individual cities with municipal courts include Arcade, Jefferson, Pendergrass, and Commerce, and each city has its own prosecutor. The Solicitor General of Jackson County prosecutes misdemeanor DUIs in the Jackson County State Court.

Driving through Madison County is a popular route to get to Athens. As a result, a lot of traffic moves through Madison County. Furthermore, as the county and the cities, it is home to see this traffic, they've stepped up police patrols and DUI checkpoints. Therefore, more people are being arrested and charged with DUI in Madison County than ever before. As a result, more people need information about Madison County DUI penalties, processes, and defense.

Most Madison County DUI cases start in Madison County Probate court located in Danielsville. The exception is for DUI cases involving a felony, like drug possession. Madison County shares a DA with Oglethorpe, Elbert, Hart, and Franklin Counties. Cases that start in Madison County Probate Court can be transferred to the Madison County Superior Court if a jury trial is requested. The Superior Court DA and judges are part of the Northern Judicial Circuit of Georgia. This circuit covers Madison, Oglethorpe, Elbert, Hart, and Franklin Counties. Therefore, drivers want an attorney who knows the area and people involved to make informed decisions about how to handle their case.

Morgan County is located below Athens, Georgia, and East of Atlanta, Georgia. It's right next to Athens-Clarke County, and many people drive through it on their way to Athens. Misdemeanor DUIs in Morgan County are prosecuted in the Morgan County Probate Court and the City of Madison Municipal Court, both courts have a contract prosecutor that handles the prosecution of their cases. If an individual is charged with a felony DUI or another felony offense along with the DUI charge, the case is prosecuted in the Morgan County Superior Court by the District Attorney of Morgan County. Additionally, any DUI case that starts in the Morgan County Probate Court or City of Madison Municipal Court can be transferred by the Defendant to the Superior Court of Morgan County so that they can have a jury trial on their charges.

At Baker & Slider, LLC, we have the experience and skills you need to fight your case. We have been handling cases in Oconee County for more than a decade, and have extensive experience and a track record of success defending DUI cases in Watkinsville, and all of Oconee County. We also stay up to date on the latest cases and legal rulings.

Many people drive through Oconee County on Highway 441, Highway 15, Highway 53, Highway 78, or Highway 316 as they travel to Athens, Georgia. As a result, a lot of traffic moves through Oconee County. Traffic enforcement and arrests for charges such as DUI alcohol and DUI drug investigations are handled by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and City of Watkinsville Police Department.

Most Oconee County DUI cases start in the Oconee County Probate Court, which is the court that has jurisdiction to handle DUI cases made in Oconee County. Additionally, the city of Watkinsville has a Municipal Court that handles DUI arrests made by the City of Watkinsville Police Department inside the city limits of Watkinsville. However, neither the Probate Court of Oconee County nor the Watkinsville Municipal Court has authority for jury trials for criminal matters. The Superior Court of Oconee County is the only court in Oconee County with jurisdiction to have jury trials and is the only other court in Oconee County that handles DUI cases. The Superior Court of Oconee County is the court in which a DUI would be prosecuted if an individual executed their constitutional right and demanded a jury trial in either the Oconee County Probate Court or the City of Watkinsville Municipal Court. Additionally, the Superior Court of Oconee County is the court where any case involving a felony, such as vehicular homicide or serious bodily injury by motor vehicle, begins. The prosecution of all cases in the Superior Court is handled by the District Attorney of Oconee County. The Superior Court DA and judges are part of the Western Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which encompasses Clarke and Oconee Counties.

Individuals that are arrested and charged with any kind of DUI in Oconee County can expect to have a case made by experienced police officers and to have the prosecution of their case handled by a prosecutor that is up to date with DUI laws. That is why it is important to have an attorney on your side that is knowledgeable in all areas of DUI and familiar with the county.

Oglethorpe County is located in Northeast Georgia, close to the border with South Carolina. It's right next to Athens-Clarke County, and many people drive through it on their way to Athens. Everyone should be prepared to deal with a possible DUI charge if they are pulled over. 

The penalties for DUI include heavy fines, community service, jail time, lost driving privileges, and more. Additionally, those are only the punishments leveled by the government. DUI defendants also risk losing their jobs, being turned down for future employment, criticism from friends and family, and more. Insurance rates will go up, and the DUI charge will stay on your record for years, making any background check problematic. With so much to lose, you'll want to ensure that you have the best possible DUI defense. For more information on how our personal injury and criminal defense attorneys can assist you, contact us today in Athens, Georgia. We also serve the surrounding areas of Franklin, Oglethorpe, Madison, and Clarke Counties.