Understanding Arraignments In Felony Cases

An arraignment is a hearing with one main purpose: to enter a plea in your felony case. At that hearing, the Court will ask if you received a copy of the information in your case. The information is similar to a complaint, and it lists the crimes charged and the maximum penalty. We will review the crimes charged and the maximum penalties during your arraignment. Then, the Court will ask for a plea.

In 99.9 percent of our cases, we enter a not guilty plea. On many occasions, the arraignment happens directly after a preliminary hearing. Other times it’s a separate hearing altogether. We will discuss the timing of the arraignment as part of our overall strategy in your case, as we work towards achieving your goals