Calendar Calls in Georgia DUI Cases

A calendar call is a court date set by a judge where both the prosecutor and defense attorney provide information regarding a case. During a calendar call meeting, the attorneys will discuss whether or not they are ready to take the case to trial. If both sides are prepared, the judge will set a date for the trial.

If your attorney or if the prosecutor is not ready for trial at the first calendar call, the parties will have to appear monthly to advise as to whether or not they are ready for trial This process continues until either the case is settled or a jury is rendered.

The calendar call is one of the many complicated facets of a criminal case. If you are facing DUI charges in Georgia, navigating the court system can seem daunting. You need an aggressive and experienced advocate to guide you through the process and fight for you at each step of the way.

For decades, calendar calls have had to happen in person, where the judge, attorneys and all involved parties meet face-to-face to discuss the case. However, some judges in Georgia now allow for calendar calls to happen via email or telephone.

In the event that your calendar call is in-person, is important to understand that you must attend unless the judge excuses you. If you are unable to attend, your attorney may be able to submit a waiver of appearance, depending on the preferences of the judge. If you are not excused and do not appear, the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest.

Just because a trial date is “set” does not mean that you will know exactly when your case will be heard. In Georgia, a calendar call will result in a case being placed “on-call” which means that there will be a two-week window wherein your case may be called in or heard. You will be advised the day before you will have to appear in court.

This process can be confusing and often very frustrating. Not many people are able to simply put their lives on hold for two weeks, waiting for a trial to begin. It may be difficult to give your work less than 24 hours’ notice that you will not be present—especially if you are working to keep the details of your case quiet.