This section encompasses a number of different charges that both the City of Ann Arbor and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office charge a lot of people with. If you’re acting poorly, causing a scene, not complying with others, and you give the cops a tough time, they are going to charge you with some sort of disorderly conduct offense. There’s a crime to charge you with based on just about any type of behavior.
The police in Ann Arbor typically give you a chance to leave the scene, and if you don’t listen, you’ll be charged with something. If you’re not leaving a business despite multiple requests, causing a scene or fighting, you’re going to get charged with a misdemeanor.
When you appear in court with one of these many charges, it will be assumed you were drunk, and “acting like an asshole”. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients who were causing scenes in bars, restaurants, and out on the street or sidewalk, and due to the use of alcohol didn’t use their best judgment and just shutup and walk away.
Now that my client is in court and sober, they don’t want to be judged on that drunken moment, but why should a prosecutor or judge give you a break? Your past won’t save, because you still acted in this manner despite past accomplishments. Your future goals might save you, but you should have reminded yourself of those goals when the police officer gave you a final chance to move on. The best way to avoid being judged on this one moment is by being proactive in the present. Together we offset this embarrassing moment by responding in a positive way, which demonstrates that you understand your actions, it’s soaked in, and you’ve made changes going forward.
It’s easy to say you’re better than this moment, or you’ve learned from it; those are empty statements. It’s what have you done since this moment in time to learn from it, and be better going forward.
The police in Ann Arbor typically give you a chance to leave the scene, and if you don’t listen, you’ll be charged with something. If you’re not leaving a business despite multiple requests, causing a scene or fighting, you’re going to get charged with a misdemeanor.
When you appear in court with one of these many charges, it will be assumed you were drunk, and “acting like an asshole”. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients who were causing scenes in bars, restaurants, and out on the street or sidewalk, and due to the use of alcohol didn’t use their best judgment and just shutup and walk away.
Now that my client is in court and sober, they don’t want to be judged on that drunken moment, but why should a prosecutor or judge give you a break? Your past won’t save, because you still acted in this manner despite past accomplishments. Your future goals might save you, but you should have reminded yourself of those goals when the police officer gave you a final chance to move on. The best way to avoid being judged on this one moment is by being proactive in the present. Together we offset this embarrassing moment by responding in a positive way, which demonstrates that you understand your actions, it’s soaked in, and you’ve made changes going forward.
It’s easy to say you’re better than this moment, or you’ve learned from it; those are empty statements. It’s what have you done since this moment in time to learn from it, and be better going forward.