DUI Acquittal

In a DUI case, as with other criminal cases, an acquittal is considered a big win for the defense. It simply means that a jury or judge finds you not guilty of the crime(s). It’s also important to note that following an acquittal, under constitutional law, the prosecution cannot appeal the court’s decision. However, an acquittal is not always a ‘get out of jail free card.’ For instance, some cases are acquitted based on an insanity plea by the defense. In this type of situation, the defendant will likely be transported to a rehabilitation center for treatment.



Typically, an acquittal occurs if the judge or jury finds that there is not enough evidence to support a guilty verdict. This may happen even before a trial begins if the judge does not feel there is enough sufficient evidence that the prosecution can present during a trial.

While a judge can rule an acquittal, you’ll typically find this type of ruling during a trial by jury. In this type of trial, the prosecution must prove to each juror that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt—a more difficult task. This is why acquittals by jury are usually seen as more significant in the eyes of the criminal justice system.

This is also true because the rulings of jurors are usually more easily understood than those of trial judges. Judges often make their rulings based on a legal technicality that is more difficult to understand. If this is the case, the acquittal may be viewed as a mistrial or a dismissal based on the type of ruling the judge gives.

It is very important to seek the advice of an experienced DUI defense attorney if you have been arrested for DUI. This is a serious criminal charge and you don’t want to be unprepared when you walk into court. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, your attorney may be able to have your case acquitted. While this is a best-case scenario, your attorney may have other defense tactics in mind should an acquittal not be possible. Remember, there are many possible defenses to a DUI/DWI!