Bellevue Assault / DV Attorney Phil Weinberg Criminal Defense LawyerEastside Defense Attorney

Experienced Assault / Domestic Violence (DV) Lawyer & Drunk Driving / DUI Attorney Serving the Eastside Area

If you’re facing charges for Assault / DV or Drunk Driving / DUI on the Eastside (Bellevue / Kirkland / Issaquah etc.) you may be, and are likely worried about a number of undesirable side effects and consequences that can impact you both now and in the future. For over 25 years, Attorney Phil Weinberg has consistently obtained outstanding results for his clients on the Eastside. If you need effective legal representation for your Eastside DUI, Assault DV or other criminal charge; Call Attorney Phil Weinberg at (425) 806-7200.

Bellevue Assault Attorney | Bellevue / Eastside Defense Lawyer
Proven Assault & DV Defense Success See My Reviews

Effective Eastside Criminal Defense Attorney

It is crucial that you take action immediately if you’ve been charged – or think you might be charged – with a crime on the Eastside.

Why should you call Phil?

  • Over 25 years of criminal defense experience in Washington
  • Free initial consultation and case evaluation
  • Personalized service for your unique situation
  • A tactful but relentless approach to your case

Call Attorney Phil Weinberg at (425) 806-7200 today. Having a dedicated advocate on your side as soon as possible can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case.

Practice Areas

Free Initial Consultation

Have you been charged with Assault / DV, Drunk Driving / DUI or another crime on the Eastside? Call Attorney Phil Weinberg at (425) 806-7200 to schedule a free no-risk, thorough legal consultation and case evaluation. Attorney Phil Weinberg understands that your situation is unique. He will listen patiently as you describe what happened before offering his honest opinion of how he can help. Phil cares about his clients’ legal rights.

About Eastside Courts & Arrests

There are multiple courts that serve the Eastside; three District courts (Redmond, Bellevue and Issaquah district courts, all part of the King County District Court system – see: https://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court.aspx — and for felonies, King County Superior Court, either in Kent or Seattle). There are also several municipal courts, including Issaquah Municipal Court, Mercer Island Municipal Court, Kirkland Municipal Court, and Bothell Municipal Court. There is also a Lake Forest Park Municipal Court. The City of Issaquah provides jail services for non-felony offenses for many Eastside arrestees, but those arrested and prosecuted in Bothell Municipal Court may be held by contract at the Snohomish County Jail, and those arrested in Bellevue and its surrounding areas may be held at the SCORE Jail in Des Moines, by contractual arrangements with the City. Felony offenders are taken to the King County Jail in Seattle, but occasionally they wind up at the other King County Jail in Kent at RJC, the Regional justice Center. Those incarcerated for a longer time, even with charges pending if they don’t make bail, are transferred to the Yakima county Jail.

Phil Weinberg has been practicing in all of these courts for over 25 years and knows practically all the court staff and prosecutors.  He’s appeared numerous times before all of the judges, too. He’s visited countless clients at the jails serving the Eastside clientele and is usually available for jail visits on short notice at all hours if the family is serious about getting real help.

The City of Bellevue uses Bellevue District Court (King County District Court, East Division – Bellevue Courthouse) to handle misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, infractions and civil violations. It enforces the Bellevue City Code (BCC), which is similar (or in some sections identical) to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). If you’re arrested by a Bellevue Police officer for a crime like Drunk Driving (DUI) or Assault / DV, it is likely your case will be heard at Bellevue District Court.

Bellevue District Court
1309 114th Ave. SE
Bellevue, WA 98004

The Redmond District Court is a division of the King County District Court System (East Division). It has jurisdiction over and hears state and King County cases; including Bellevue arrests for Drunk Driving / DUI or Assault DV arrests made by a King County Sheriff or Washington State Trooper that result in misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor charges are handled by Bellevue District Court.

Redmond District Court
8601 160th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98052

King County Superior Court
516 Third Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104

The Superior Court primarily handles felonies; including Bellevue felony Assault / DV or felony Drunk Driving (DUI) cases where the alleged crime and/or arrest occurred anywhere on the Eastside, including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Woodinville, Duvall, Medina, Hunts Point, Factoria.

After being booked into jail, the accused will appear before a judge on the next court day. Arrestees booked on a Friday night, over the weekend or the day before or of a legal holiday must wait until the court reopens to appear.

How it works

At the arraignment hearing; the plea entered should always be “Not Guilty”; regardless of the details and circumstances of your case. At this arraignment hearing, prosecutors will often request that the judge require strict release conditions such as bail or an Ignition Interlock Device (in the case of a DUI charge). An experienced Bellevue and Eastside Criminal Defense Attorney can often successfully avoid or minimize some or all of these conditions, especially on first-time offenses.

Pretrial Conferences; – also called Pretrial Hearings (aka “PTR”); are the next step. Most cases have several PTR’s before they are finally resolved via a plea deal or dismissal on a successful pretrial motion or they are then set for trial. If the prosecutor presents an acceptable plea bargain (i.e., plea deal), the case can be concluded at a PTR. Throughout this process, your defense attorney will be investigating, negotiating, researching and gathering any evidence relevant to your case.

If a case is not resolved at a pretrial hearing (“PTR”) your attorney will likely bring various pretrial defense motions. Depending on the facts and laws surrounding your case, there are several pretrial motions that can have a significant impact on your defense. Successful pretrial motion practice is an art and vast knowledge arena in itself.  These motions, to win, must be powerfully but professionally drafted, crafting your unique defense arguing the facts, the aspects of fairness (i.e., the equities of your circumstances and basic notions of fairness and due process, of justice itself), and using and arguing all supportive statutory and case law (precedent) favorable to your defense.

Many cases do not go to trial – trial is frankly a last resort due to the inherent considerable risk and cost. You may decide to proceed to trial if, for example, the prosecution has not offered an acceptable plea deal or if a conviction (even to whatever lesser offense MAY be offered by the government prosecutor) would cause considerable and unthinkable damage to your career or personal life. Everyone has a right to a trial (fair, speedy, impartially judges and with a jury of one’s peers, including the opportunity to present witnesses on one’s own behalf and to confront those who accuse(d) you); but unfortunately, in everyday practice these rights are hard to come by and many trials proceed without witnesses and evidence that in a perfectly fair world should be part of the ordeal. Often the sometimes very high cost of trial attorney, expert and investigative fees, plus expert witness fees (physicians, blood experts, toxicologists, and other forensic experts makes going to trial impractical for the defendant and his or her family.  The saying “justice for all” really ought to be changed to: “Justice for all who can afford it.”  Phil Weinberg does all within his power to work with his clients, so they can afford the litigation they need.  But trial is, to be honest, not always possible.  Moreover, trial is often ill-advised as likely not a winnable proposition.  Phil is blunt in his assessments in that regard; but nonetheless, the client has a right to insist on going to trial.  Whether to take a case to trial is always, ultimately — solely the client’s choice and decision.

That means plea bargaining is always the first approach, unless the state/city/county prosecutor says in effect “no deals.”  Then, it is war, so to speak.  Many cases optimally call for the use of a competent, experienced criminal defense private investigator.  Phil Weinberg works with two of the best such PI’s in the State of Washington.