What is Arraignment?

An arraignment is usually a defendant's first court appearance in front of a judge and the prosecutor. The main purpose of the arraignment is to inform the defendant of the criminal charges against him or her. At this first court appearance, the defendant (or his or her attorney) enters a plea of "Guilty" or "Not Guilty." Typically, the defendant pleads "Not Guilty" to begin defending the case. At the arraignment the defendant's attorney will be given the criminal complaint with the police report.

Arraignment: Misdemeanor Vs. Felony

After the plea is entered, the court schedules a new court date. If the criminal charges are misdemeanors, a pretrial conference date is set usually about 30 days after the arraignment. If the criminal charges are felonies, under California law, a preliminary hearing is scheduled within 10 court days of the arraignment, unless the defendant waives time (right to a speedy preliminary hearing) and the preliminary hearing is set beyond the 10 court days.

Bail During the Arraignment

Bail is addressed at the arraignment. If the bail is set too high, an attorney may argue for the bail to be reduced or may request the defendant be released on his own recognizance (commonly known as "O.R.") without posting bail, if the defendant is in custody on the arraignment date.

Written Waivers During Arraignment

Defendants are required to appear at their arraignment in felony cases unless a written waiver according to Penal Code section 997(b) is accepted by the court. It is a rare situation where the court accepts written waivers in felony cases. In misdemeanor cases, a defendant may have his or her attorney appear in his or her place, under Penal Code section 977(a). Misdemeanor cases involving domestic violence and protective order violations are excepted from "977 authority," and usually require a defendant's personal court appearance.

If you need assistance with an arraignment or a criminal case, consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to learn about your rights, defenses, and legal options. Call us today!

  • ABA
  • BAR
  • NACDL
  • CACI
  • Maba Logo
  • super lawyer

Client Reviews

  • God Bless you Stephen, wish you all the successes in life.

    “Stephen is a great contact and extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I am glad that I was his client in the past. Top lawyer, top man. God Bless you Stephen, wish you all the successes in life.”

  • Don't hesitate to contact them!

    “I was referred to this group of Attorneys. I was started with a low cost made arrangements. My case had to do with assault allegations. The case was dismissed they helped me not to loose my daughter to the system.”

>