Criminal and Civil

• Judges may issue bench warrants to failure to appear in both criminal and civil matters. A judge may enter a bench warrant against someone who fails to appear for jury duty, but this is rare.
  
  

Ramifications

• If a bench warrant has been issued against you, when you are located by the police, they will arrest you and bring you before the judge.
  
  

The Process

• Once you have been picked up by the police and arrested pursuant to the bench warrant, you will have a bench warrant hearing.
  
  

The Hearing

• At the bench warrant hearing, the judge will listen to your reasons for not appearing for your initial case.
  
  

Outcome of the Hearing

• If you do not have legitimate reason for not appearing in court as ordered, the judge may jail you and hold you without bond to ensure that you appear at your next court date.