There are no witnesses at an arraignment and no testimony or evidence is taken. The judge at the arraignment will not grant a defendant’s request to dismiss any charges. The accused is presumed to be innocent, and that presumption remains until the defendant is convicted at trial or admits their guilt.

The defendant will enter a plea.

There are three possible pleas to a criminal charge: Not Guilty, Guilty, and No Contest. Read more about the various pleas here. A defendant’s decision on their plea is certainly one of the most important in their case. In almost all cases, defendants cannot harm their case by entering a Not Guilty plea, and that is the plea that will be entered for a defendant if they cannot or will not make their choice.[/et_pb_text]

What happens after the arraignment?

If a defendant pleads guilty at an arraignment, the judge will move straight into a change of plea hearing and the case will end.

If the defendant enters a not guilty plea, the next court appearance after the arraignment is the pretrial conference.

If you have an attorney prior to the arraignment, you may not need to show up.

If the defendant has an attorney and the matter is a misdemeanor, the attorney will likely file paperwork with the court entering a not guilty plea. This paperwork will also ask the court to vacate the arraignment and set a pretrial conference. As a result, neither the attorney nor the defendant would appear at the arraignment. The first pretrial conference will be set about 30 days after the arraignment date.

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Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

the course of a criminal case, the State (the prosecutor) and the defendant are required to make disclosures. They must disclose to each other any evidence or witnesses they may want to use in the case. For example, the State is required to provide anything it may use against the defendant at trial.

What is a Deviation Request?

What is a Deviation Request?

The goal in a criminal case is generally to mitigate the consequences of the alleged crime. In other words, the defendant wants to achieve an outcome that is better than if they were convicted of the alleged crime.

At the arraignment, the judge will read the charges, inform the defendant of the possible consequences if the defendant is convicted, and explain the defendant’s constitutional rights. The defendant may also receive other information regarding his or her case and the court process. There are no witnesses at an arraignment and no testimony or evidence is taken. The judge at the arraignment will not grant a defendant’s request to dismiss any charges. The accused is presumed to be innocent, and that presumption remains until the defendant is convicted at trial or admits their guilt.

The defendant will enter a plea.

There are three possible pleas to a criminal charge: Not Guilty, Guilty, and No Contest. Read more about the various pleas here. A defendant’s decision on their plea is certainly one of the most important in their case. In almost all cases, defendants cannot harm their case by entering a Not Guilty plea, and that is the plea that will be entered for a defendant if they cannot or will not make their choice. [/et_pb_text]

What happens after the arraignment?

If a defendant pleads guilty at an arraignment, the judge will move straight into a change of plea hearing and the case will end.

If the defendant enters a not guilty plea, the next court appearance after the arraignment is the pretrial conference.

If you have an attorney prior to the arraignment, you may not need to show up.

If the defendant has an attorney and the matter is a misdemeanor, the attorney will likely file paperwork with the court entering a not guilty plea. This paperwork will also ask the court to vacate the arraignment and set a pretrial conference. As a result, neither the attorney nor the defendant would appear at the arraignment. The first pretrial conference will be set about 30 days after the arraignment date.

[/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row]

Email Us

And we’ll reach out.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

 

 

[/et_pb_section]

Latest Blog Posts

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

the course of a criminal case, the State (the prosecutor) and the defendant are required to make disclosures. They must disclose to each other any evidence or witnesses they may want to use in the case. For example, the State is required to provide anything it may use against the defendant at trial.

What is a Deviation Request?

What is a Deviation Request?

The goal in a criminal case is generally to mitigate the consequences of the alleged crime. In other words, the defendant wants to achieve an outcome that is better than if they were convicted of the alleged crime.

When is the arraignment?

If the case was initiated by a citation issued from a police officer (like in an excessive speed case, for example), the arraignment date appears at the bottom of the citation. If the case began with a summons and complaint, which may be mailed to or served on the defendant by the Sheriff or a licensed process server, the arraignment date will appear on the summons. If the defendant was arrested and released, the release orders will also list the next court date.

[/et_pb_text]

What happens at the arraignment?

At the arraignment, the judge will read the charges, inform the defendant of the possible consequences if the defendant is convicted, and explain the defendant’s constitutional rights. The defendant may also receive other information regarding his or her case and the court process. There are no witnesses at an arraignment and no testimony or evidence is taken. The judge at the arraignment will not grant a defendant’s request to dismiss any charges. The accused is presumed to be innocent, and that presumption remains until the defendant is convicted at trial or admits their guilt.

The defendant will enter a plea.

There are three possible pleas to a criminal charge: Not Guilty, Guilty, and No Contest. Read more about the various pleas here. A defendant’s decision on their plea is certainly one of the most important in their case. In almost all cases, defendants cannot harm their case by entering a Not Guilty plea, and that is the plea that will be entered for a defendant if they cannot or will not make their choice.

What happens after the arraignment?

If a defendant pleads guilty at an arraignment, the judge will move straight into a change of plea hearing and the case will end.

If the defendant enters a not guilty plea, the next court appearance after the arraignment is the pretrial conference.

If you have an attorney prior to the arraignment, you may not need to show up.

If the defendant has an attorney and the matter is a misdemeanor, the attorney will likely file paperwork with the court entering a not guilty plea. This paperwork will also ask the court to vacate the arraignment and set a pretrial conference. As a result, neither the attorney nor the defendant would appear at the arraignment. The first pretrial conference will be set about 30 days after the arraignment date.

[/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row]

Email Us

And we’ll reach out.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

 

 

[/et_pb_section]

Latest Blog Posts

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

the course of a criminal case, the State (the prosecutor) and the defendant are required to make disclosures. They must disclose to each other any evidence or witnesses they may want to use in the case. For example, the State is required to provide anything it may use against the defendant at trial.

What is a Deviation Request?

What is a Deviation Request?

The goal in a criminal case is generally to mitigate the consequences of the alleged crime. In other words, the defendant wants to achieve an outcome that is better than if they were convicted of the alleged crime.

What Is An Arraignment?

Home » Misdemeanor Court Procedures in Arizona » What Is An Arraignment?

In a Nutshell:

The Arraignment is the defendant’s first appearance in court. It serves two purposes: First, the judge advises the defendant of the charges, the potential consequences, and constitutional rights. Second, the defendant enters a plea.

In more detail:

When is the arraignment?

If the case was initiated by a citation issued from a police officer (like in an excessive speed case, for example), the arraignment date appears at the bottom of the citation. If the case began with a summons and complaint, which may be mailed to or served on the defendant by the Sheriff or a licensed process server, the arraignment date will appear on the summons. If the defendant was arrested and released, the release orders will also list the next court date.

What happens at the arraignment?

At the arraignment, the judge will read the charges, inform the defendant of the possible consequences if the defendant is convicted, and explain the defendant’s constitutional rights. The defendant may also receive other information regarding his or her case and the court process. There are no witnesses at an arraignment and no testimony or evidence is taken. The judge at the arraignment will not grant a defendant’s request to dismiss any charges. The accused is presumed to be innocent, and that presumption remains until the defendant is convicted at trial or admits their guilt.

The defendant will enter a plea.

There are three possible pleas to a criminal charge: Not Guilty, Guilty, and No Contest. Read more about the various pleas here. A defendant’s decision on their plea is certainly one of the most important in their case. In almost all cases, defendants cannot harm their case by entering a Not Guilty plea, and that is the plea that will be entered for a defendant if they cannot or will not make their choice.

What happens after the arraignment?

If a defendant pleads guilty at an arraignment, the judge will move straight into a change of plea hearing and the case will end.

If the defendant enters a not guilty plea, the next court appearance after the arraignment is the pretrial conference.

If you have an attorney prior to the arraignment, you may not need to show up.

If the defendant has an attorney and the matter is a misdemeanor, the attorney will likely file paperwork with the court entering a not guilty plea. This paperwork will also ask the court to vacate the arraignment and set a pretrial conference. As a result, neither the attorney nor the defendant would appear at the arraignment. The first pretrial conference will be set about 30 days after the arraignment date.

Email Us

And we’ll reach out.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

 

 

Latest Blog Posts

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

Disclosure and Discovery in a Criminal Traffic Case

the course of a criminal case, the State (the prosecutor) and the defendant are required to make disclosures. They must disclose to each other any evidence or witnesses they may want to use in the case. For example, the State is required to provide anything it may use against the defendant at trial.

What is a Deviation Request?

What is a Deviation Request?

The goal in a criminal case is generally to mitigate the consequences of the alleged crime. In other words, the defendant wants to achieve an outcome that is better than if they were convicted of the alleged crime.