
How to Defend Yourself in Court
A few months ago, we posted a blog about why you should not defend yourself in court. There are various reasons why, when facing criminal charges, that defending yourself can actually harm your chances of a successful outcome, such as not understanding the legal jargon of the courtroom, the processes of the courtroom, and most importantly, the years of experience, training, and education that the prosecuting attorney has that you don’t. Lawyers and criminal defense attorneys attend years of schooling and training that allow them to be fully prepared for fighting cases in court, not to mention the experience they gain in actually preparing for a specific case.
Yes, this is meant to influence your decision on whether or not to defend yourself in court. The Donahue Law Firm does very much want to see you succeed — and we understand the incredible risk of trying to go it alone against an experienced prosecutor, a judge who won’t do you any favors, and other court personnel who also won’t offer any help or suggestions. However, because we want so much for your case to have a positive outcome, we want to help you as much as possible to prepare for your court process.
If you absolutely must go to court or trial without the expertise of a criminal defense attorney, here are some tips to help you prepare the case and for the court appearance or trial itself.

Tips For Defending Yourself in Court
Do Your Research
Whether you’re facing a DUI charge or a domestic violence offense, the more you know about the law and your specific charge the better. If you’re facing a DUI charge, learn if the police pulled you over with sufficient reasoning or if the sobriety test was administered correctly. Did you fully understand the process of the sobriety test? Did the officer read you your Miranda Rights? Had the breathalyzer been properly maintained? There are many arguments that can be made to win your case, but it takes knowing what to look for.
There is a lot of information online about laws and criminal charges, so be careful about what you are reading and make sure it applies to your case and to the state of Oregon. Consider consulting with a criminal defense attorney to make sure you are headed in the right direction or do some research at a local public law library.
Know the Court Procedures
Doing a quick search for “Oregon Rules of Court” will bring up information on Uniform Trial Court Rules, Supplementary Local Court Rules, Appellate Court Rules, and more. The Uniform Trial Court Rules provides information on:
- Decorum in Proceedings, including proper apparel, manner of address, proper position of parties before the court, procedure for swearing witnesses, communication with jurors, and more.
- Proceedings in Criminal Cases, including the procedure for the order of transportation, oral argument on motions in criminal cases, motion to suppress evidence, and more.
These documents contain information that can be hard to understand for the average person, so be aware that it will take some time to gather useful information. It is indeed useful information, as not knowing what the appropriate procedures are during court is not an excuse for not following the rules.
Know the Deadlines

Go to a Courtroom Hearing
Be Prepared
Be Respectful
Contact Us Today
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