I always say: " 'Winning' a DUI case depends on the needs of each client." What is possible for one person is not even thinkable for another. Pro-footballer Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns illustrates my point nicely.
With the NFL changing its policy on DUIs and drugs, he and his lawyer decided it would be a great idea to pled guilty to DWI in North Carolina. In his case, it makes sense.
Why?
1. Mr. Gordon is already in a year-long ban for multiple violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Mr. Gordon can't afford to miss more games.
2. Under current NFL rules, a DUI/DWI will cost a player up to $50,000 but no suspension. If Mr. Gordon waits for the new rules, it will cost him an automatic 2 game suspension. Of course, he still has to face North Carolina's punishments: a 60-day suspended sentence, a $100 fine and $290 in court costs, and submit to a drug assessment as part of his guilty plea.
I can list many professions where if you did that, you'd be out of a job. Airline pilots and commercial truck drivers definitely lose their jobs as do those whose careers involve access to prescription narcotics. People who are seeking jobs miss out on interviews when their background check reveals a DUI conviction, especially for jobs requiring security clearance or access to confidential information. Potential doctors and lawyers cannot sit for licensing exams while on probation for an alcohol or drug-related offense. Some colleges expel students who have an alcohol or drug-related conviction.
You can lose a lot with a DUI. If you've been charged with a Gwinnett or Forsyth County DUI, make sure you consult with a local DUI lawyer before you decide how to plea. At the very least, download my free book "What You Should Know About Georgia DUI Laws" so you know exactly what you are facing. After all, a "win" in your case will look different than a win does for Josh Gordon.
