Should I represent myself on a first offense DUI? 13 Answers as of May 25, 2011

You should get the Public Defender. PDs are mostly great attorneys, just overworked. You need legal advice on something that can affect the rest of your life.

With a .10 B.A. the D.A. will be unlikely to willingly reduce the charge. If you don't have funds for a lawyer you can rep yourself. You probably qualify for a P.D. but they will be of little help.

Request the public defender.

Should you? No. Can you? Yes. If you cant afford counsel, then apply for Public Defender at your first hearing.

Not really. It is like a lawyer asking a doctor if she should conduct her own surgery. Without the training and experience, not only could you make it worse, you could hurt yourself permanently and unnecessarily.

Never go to a criminal court appearance without an attorney!

Definitely use the Public Defender. You probably have no idea what best to do.

It is always a bad idea to represent yourself. And for DUI's, it is almost always a bad idea to use the PD, because PD's cannot and will not represent you at the DMV hearing, which is a big part of any DUI arrest. You need a private attorney specializing in DUI in order to get competent representation both in court and at the DMV.

You have no money so you qualify for a PD. Why not take one so the DA doesn't take advantage of You

Nobody is ever better off representing themselves in a criminal case. My advice would be to take up a collection from friends and relatives or obtain help from the public defender. Even then, they may want you to enter a plea at arraignment without obtaining discovery first or without having your blood test re-done.It is important that you are fully represented and make no statements adverse to your penal interests.It will be difficult to adequately represent your interests absent a competent attorney.