Legal Question in Criminal Law in Washington

Right of Defendant to be present at hearing

Does a defendant who is in custody, at a work release, have the right to be present at his hearing? Does the work release have the right to deny him permission to leave the grounds to attend his hearing, even if a request is submitted to his work release counselor by the defendant's attorney? (He has available transportation to & from, by a reliable party).


Asked on 5/10/02, 5:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Paul Ferris Law Office of Paul T. Ferris

Re: Right of Defendant to be present at hearing

The answer to your question depends on the nature of the hearing. Generally, a defendant in a criminal case is required to be present at all proceedings. A defendant's absence can be excused by the court or under certain (local) court rules. At a minimum, a defendant is entitled to appear at all hearings in criminal proceedings.

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Answered on 5/10/02, 2:32 pm


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