Aside from the fact that I shouldn’t have to tell anyone this (it should be obvious), I shouldn’t have to state more about it. In no manner is this a good idea or to your advantage.
Maybe you don’t get noticed (hope that you don’t get noticed). Or if your intoxication doesn’t break the law (you had a ride to court) or any probation that you are on (were you ordered to remain sober?), if it does get noticed the procedural result will probably to reschedule the hearing; the court won’t allow you to address your legal rights, be it a family, civil, or criminal law matter, while you are impaired.
However, there are only a handful of acts that would give the opposing side greater leverage than you appearing for court intoxicated. It will become a material issue in any family law case. In any criminal case it greatly weakens your attorney’s ability to present you a dignified defendant whom the prosecutor shouldn’t want to risk taking to trial. And overall it demonstrates such poor decision making that it will rejuvenate & sustain the determination of the opposing side to get what they want (a.k.a. denying you what you want).
Just to be clear, this applies to alcohol, non-prescription meds, all drugs including weed, and anything else that will get you high in a fashion that our culture deems morally culpable.
Lastly, a related note that is not often discussed is that if you are on prescription medication or otherwise emotionally frazzled such that either affects your ability to consider, argue for, and represent your legal rights with your attorney in a court of law you should tell her or him immediately. There are ways to ensure that you are fully present and ready to address such important issues.
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