I'm no lawyer, but I am pretty familiar with the law (friends in trouble, self defense and gun laws, drug/privacy law, etc). However I'm quite confused on this one.

So my girlfriend and her military friend (just finished basic) in Mississippi, go to see PANTyRAiD in New Orleans. Now the military guy wasn't given permission to leave base. My gf and the guy, drunk or whatever, cut some line in front of a guy, who doesn't care, but his fat girlfriend rages and punches my GF. They get into it, she says they both swing about 4 times, my gf lands a solid in her face and that's that. Everyone goes on partying, whatever, who cares.

'Suddenly' a few minutes later, she is put in the back of a cop car by security, where the military guy already is (he wasn't even doing anything), and see the fat girl going on about how they the big black dude and the girl ganged up on her (and the boyfriend just nodding in agreement). 

Cop drops them off at the hospital, says he believes my GF/friend in that they didn't do anything, but because she's claiming assault, they gotta go to court. He doesn't call the friend's military superiors, but he has to go to court too. 

But the problem is my GF is flying back today, Mississippi is halfway across the country. She doesn't have the vacation to fly back, nor the money. I'm sure she can get a lawyer to represent her in absentia (that's what people do in these types of situations, right?) but that's a bit expensive and ridiculous...

So I don't know what this is. They weren't charged, they weren't arrested. What kind of court is this? They have to plead their case before a judge.

My guess is the fat girl won't even show up to court, but what is she supposed to do in this situation? 

Thanks.
user
My GF gets into a fight in New Orleans, gets arrested after some girl gets assaulted,
assistant
I'm no lawyer, but I am pretty familiar with the law (friends in trouble, self defense and gun laws, drug/privacy law, etc). However I'm quite confused on this one.

So my girlfriend and her military friend (just finished basic) in Mississippi, go to see PANTyRAiD in New Orleans. Now the military guy wasn't given permission to leave base. My gf and the guy, drunk or whatever, cut some line in front of a guy, who doesn't care, but his fat girlfriend rages and punches my GF. They get into it, she says they both swing about 4 times, my gf lands a solid in her face and that's that. Everyone goes on partying, whatever, who cares.

'Suddenly' a few minutes later, she is put in the back of a cop car by security, where the military guy already is (he wasn't even doing anything), and see the fat girl going on about how they the big black dude and the girl ganged up on her (and the boyfriend just nodding in agreement). 

Cop drops them off at the hospital, says he believes my GF/friend in that they didn't do anything, but because she's claiming assault, they gotta go to court. He doesn't call the friend's military superiors, but he has to go to court too. 

But the problem is my GF is flying back today, Mississippi is halfway across the country. She doesn't have the vacation to fly back, nor the money. I'm sure she can get a lawyer to represent her in absentia (that's what people do in these types of situations, right?) but that's a bit expensive and ridiculous...

So I don't know what this is. They weren't charged, they weren't arrested. What kind of court is this? They have to plead their case before a judge.

My guess is the fat girl won't even show up to court, but what is she supposed to do in this situation? 

Thanks.
user
Friend's girlfriend got into a fight in another state, she gets in some trouble and arrested
assistant