Justia Lawyer Rating for Rufus Alldredge Jr
The Mississippi Bar
NACDL - Criminal Defense Lawyers
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Harrison County Bar Association
United States District Court - Southern District of Mississippi
United States District Court - District of South Dakota
United States District Court - District of North Dakota
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Preliminary Hearing and Bond Reduction

A preliminary hearing is not your trial. The judge will not find you guilty or innocent. There is no jury. The rules of evidence do not apply. Hearsay is admissible. The judge at the preliminary hearing will not allow a suppression motion. The issue of bond reduction is also addressed.

At a preliminary hearing the judicial officer shall determine probable cause and the conditions for release, if any. A finding of probable cause may be based on hearsay evidence. Objections to evidence on the ground that it was acquired by unlawful means are not properly made at the preliminary hearing.

If from the evidence it appears that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed by you, the judicial officer shall bind the defendant over to await action of the grand jury. If from the evidence it appears that there is no probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed by you, the defendant shall be discharged from custody. The discharge of the defendant shall not preclude the state from instituting a subsequent prosecution for the same offense. This means the charge can still be presented to the Grand Jury, even if it was dismissed at preliminary hearing.

If a defendant is in custody, he has a right to a preliminary hearing. If the defendant has been released on a bond, he may petition the court for an out of custody preliminary hearing, but this is not a right.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Mr. Alldredge is an excellent lawyer. He has compassion for his clients and he delivered more than we expected! He and Nancy were exceptionally professional and were accommodating of my husband's tricky schedule. Rufus provided us with resources and guidance, and most importantly helped us build a strong case. Highly recommend!” Cherie Mire
★★★★★
"Mr. Alldredge is an incredible, kind hearted, knowledgeable attorney. If you ever find yourself in a position where you need an attorney that can help you navigate any kind of situation, he is the one. He ensures that you know as much as possible and ensures you are prepared. He made me feel calm and he always, always, is available for any questions or concerns. Highly recommend." Eva Beidelman
★★★★★
"MR. Alldredge worked with me while I was on a short time line do to having leave to go back to work in Germany. He ended up not only representing me but got the case dismissed and saved my military career. Now i see why all my friends recommended him and he hard earned reputation." Charles Pinkston