The first stage of a courtroom-based proceeding in a criminal case is the arraignment. It's common for a defendant to be nervous during the arraignment, but there's no need to be since the process is very simple. Sometimes, the arraignment lasts just a few short minutes in Maricopa County.
During a typical arraignment, a person charged with a crime is called before a criminal court judge. FindLaw states that judge then reads the criminal charges against the defendant and will ask if the defendant is in need of a court-appointed Phoenix criminal defense attorney.
The defendant will then say if he or she will be pleading guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the criminal charges. The judge will then decide whether to alter the bail amount or to release the defendant on his or her own recognizance. Lastly, the judge will set a court date for future proceedings and make sure that you understand the need to attend the next hearing. All the formal rules for criminal procedure in the state of Arizona can be found on the state's Supreme Court website.
It's often a good idea to hire your own Phoenix criminal defense attorney before the arraignment. This is so the attorney can look at any police reports or other evidence ahead of time. In some cases, a Phoenix criminal defense attorney can attend the arraignment and enter a plea on your behalf so that you don't even have to attend your first court date. More information about the different stages of a criminal case can be found through our Related Resources pages.
Related Resources:
- Stages of a Criminal Case: Criminal Trials (FindLaw)
- Locate a Phoenix Criminal Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Defendants' Rights During a Trial (FindLaw)
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