Caddo Parish DWI Court Process Explained

DWI cases arising in Shreveport are generally handled within Caddo Parish courts, and understanding how those cases move can help reduce uncertainty.

The First Court Appearance

The case typically begins with an arraignment.

At this stage, the charge is formally addressed. The defendant is not required to make detailed statements about the case at that time. In fact, there is no discussion about the facts of the case at the arraignment. The defendant usually enters a not guilty plea and a new court date is given. We recommend this so that we can obtain the reports from the prosecutor and try to negotiate a deal. If you just plead guilty at the arraignment, then you are simply at the mercy of the court.

How Cases Progress

After arraignment, cases move through a series of court settings. The number and type of these settings depend on the circumstances of the case.

Some cases involve:

review of evidence
legal issues related to the stop or arrest
discussions regarding resolution

There is no single timeline that applies to every case.

Evidence in DWI Cases

DWI cases often involve a combination of:

how the stop occurred (accident, traffic stop, etc.)
officer observations
field sobriety testing
chemical test results

How these pieces fit together varies from case to case.

Scheduling Realities

Court scheduling in Caddo Parish can involve multiple cases being set at the same time. It is not unusual for matters to be addressed throughout the morning or longer.

This is a normal part of how these dockets operate.