The First Hearing

Facing a criminal charge is frightening — and that fear can push you into big decisions before you understand what you’re actually up against, like spending thousands on a lawyer out of panic. The First Hearing helps you face it with a clear head. Built by someone who went through it himself, the app gives you calm, straightforward answers about what’s really happening in your case — grounded in real, local outcomes from actual cases, not generic advice off the internet. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Ask anything, anytime — clear answers about your charge and the court process, in English or Spanish. • See how real, local cases like yours played out — actual results, described plainly, never a prediction about you. • Get hyperlocal, insider knowledge specific to your courthouse. • Keep your whole case in one place — court dates, charges, restraining/no-contact orders, probation, and private notes. • Find the public defender or a private attorney when your situation calls for one. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No name. Nothing tied to your identity. Your case stays yours. WHERE IT HELPS MOST Our local case data currently centers on Santa Clara County, California, and is growing. You can use the app from anywhere — you just won’t see the local insights outside the areas we cover yet. IMPORTANT The First Hearing offers general information and one person’s personal experience — not legal advice — and using it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Some situations genuinely need a lawyer: if there’s an injury, a weapon, a prior record, immigration concerns, a protective order, or a felony charge, it’s worth talking to a lawyer or the public defender (free if you qualify). If money is tight, start with the public defender.