COVID-19: Updated Cullman Municipal Court information

CULLMAN MUNICIPAL COURT | COVID-19 INFORMATION
(UPDATED 4-22-2020)

• RESCHEDULED COURT DATES
  • All cases set for April 15, 2020 have been reset to May 6, 2020 at 3:00pm.
  • All cases set for April 16, 2020 have been reset to May 7, 2020 at 3:00pm.
  • All cases set for March 18, 2020 and April 29, 2020 have been reset to May 6, 2020 at 3:00pm.
  • All cases set for March 19, 2020 and April 30, 2020 have been reset to May 6, 2020 at 3:00pm.

COURT PROCEDURE

• • To abide by the active Alabama Public Health orders and maintain social distancing, all Cullman Municipal Court defendants are now required to sign-in prior to court at the Municipal Court office. Defendants must provide a telephone number and then return to their vehicles until called to appear before the Judge. Defendants may only be accompanied by an attorney unless he or she is a minor accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Cullman Municipal Court encourages defendants to take advantage of the following options:

• • Driving School
    • Only given for moving violations (Running Red Light, Speeding, Fail to Yield, etc.)
    • Defendant can only have one traffic ticket in this court
    • The ticket cannot be for Reckless Driving, Speeding 25+, Speeding in a School Zone, or Driving Under the Influence
    • Defendant cannot have a CDL
    • Defendant cannot go to driving school if he or she has had a ticket with our court in the past 3 years.
    • Defendants meeting the qualifications above may request driving school at the Court office on or before the scheduled court date.
  • Continuances
    • Defendants may be given up to 3 months to correct any of the following violations:
      • Driving without a License
      • Driving while Suspended
      • Driving while Revoked
      • Expired Tag
      • Failure to Register Vehicle
      • Any Insurance Violation
      • Any Improper Equipment Violation (Improper lights, tires, muffler, etc.)
    • Any defendant that wants to plead “guilty” to one traffic ticket that is on the magistrate schedule but does not have the money to do so on the day of court may be given up to 3 months to plea to and pay their ticket.
    • Defendants may request a continuance at the Court office or by phone, (256)775-7136, on or before the scheduled court date.
  • Trials
    • All defendants are entitled to a trial. Any defendant wishing to plead “not guilty” may automatically have their case set on the next available trial docket.
    • Any case with possible jail time requires an attorney (retained or appointed) for trial.
    • Defendants may request a trial at the Court office or by phone, (256)775-7136, on or before the scheduled court date.
  • Appointed Attorneys
    • Any defendant asking for a court appointed attorney must have a case that may have possible jail time.
    • Defendant’s requesting a court appointed attorney must fill out an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship form and then wait their turn to see the Judge to have an attorney appointed.
    • Defendants may request a court appointed attorney at the Court office on the scheduled court date.
  • Probationers
    • Probationers able to catch-up what they owe on or before their scheduled court date may pay and resume probation without staying for court.
    • Probationers who provide sufficient documentation of a COVID-19 related hardship may be given up to 3 months to resume their payments without staying for court.
    • All other probationers must appear before the Judge on the scheduled court date.