What Is Bench Warrant
Courts issue bench warrants when someone has been assigned a time and date to appear in court yet does not show up.
What is bench warrant. A bench warrant is an arrest warrant that is issued by a judge or court when a person fails to comply with a court order prompting the court to hold the person in contempt. Ignoring a bench warrant will have the same consequences as ignoring an arrest warrant. A bench warrant is a summons issued from the bench a judge or court directing the police to arrest someone who must be brought before a specific judge either for contempt of court or for failing to appear in court as required. A third instance where a bench warrant is issued is to obtain a witness who disobeys a subpoena which is a command to appear at a specified time and place to present testimony upon a certain matter.
A bench warrant is a order that a judge or justice of the peace issues against a person who has not appeared for their court matter or has failed to remain in attendance at their court matter. The bench warrant authorizes police officers to arrest the named person and bring him before the judge. A bench warrant is an arrest warrant that is ordered by a judge against the defendant in a criminal case or a similar proceeding such as for a traffic ticket. A bench warrant is also issued when an indictment which is a written accusation of a person s guilt for an act or omission is handed down.
Ultimately you will be taken into custody. A bench warrant is an arrest warrant issued by a judge or court most commonly when a defendant fails to appear at a scheduled court hearing. This is also known as a failure to appear or fta warrant. A judge issues a bench warrant authorizing the police to arrest someone and bring her to court.
Once a bench warrant is issued however the police can treat it like any other arrest warrant and use it to bring the defendant back in front of the judge. A bench warrant is typically issued in the case of a failure to appear for trial sometimes abbreviated fta the bench is the traditional term for the judge s seat. To get rid of a bench warrant a person must arrange for a new hearing and pay bail. Unlike a basic arrest warrant a bench warrant is not issued to initiate the first criminal action.
For more on failing to appear in court see bail jumping or failing to appear after bailing out by contrast the arrest warrant process is started by a police officer.