Charged with a Crime in Johnson County? Here's What You Should Know:

Mo AlMahareeq Law defends clients in Johnson County, Indiana every day. Consider this post your introduction to how criminal cases move through the Johnson County court system—and what you can expect at each stage. For more on the legal issues discussed here, see our Indiana criminal defense overview and First-Time Offender in Marion County, Indiana? What You Need to Know guide.

Where Your Case Will Be Filed

In all likelihood, your Johnson County criminal charges will be filed in one of three courts:

- Johnson Superior Court 2 — located in the Annex North building at 18 W. Jefferson Street - Johnson Superior Court 3 — located in the Annex North building at 18 W. Jefferson Street - Johnson Circuit Court — located in the main courthouse at 5 E. Jefferson Street

Your First Court Date: The Initial Hearing

Your first court date is known as an initial hearing. At this hearing, the judge will read the formal charges against you and explain your legal rights—including your right to an attorney and your right to a jury trial, if you so choose.

Here's some good news: if you're facing misdemeanor charges and you've already hired an attorney, there's a good chance they can file paperwork to waive the initial hearing, meaning you may not have to appear at all.

Pretrial Conferences

After the initial hearing, your case will be set for a series of pretrial conferences. These are check-ins with the prosecutor and the judge to report on where your case stands. In most situations, you will need to attend these conferences.

Change of Plea or Trial

As your case progresses, it will most likely be set for either a change of plea hearing or a trial. Before either date is scheduled, we sit down with you, walk through your options, and decide together how to proceed. Nothing happens without your input.

The Real Work Happens Between Court Dates

The scheduled hearings are only part of the picture. Between those dates is where the real work gets done: gathering evidence, scrutinizing the State's case, and negotiating with the prosecutor to secure the most favorable outcome possible on your behalf.

Questions? Call Us.

Mo AlMahareeq never wants his clients losing sleep over court procedure. If you have questions about your case or your next hearing in Johnson County, give us a call at (347) 889-4944—and remember: always plead the 5th!