Your first court appearance is usually an arraignment. At your arraignment the judge will usually advise you of the maximum penalty, minimum penalties and your trial rights. You will be asked your name and asked to enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty.” You will also be asked to decide between a “bench” or “judge” trial, or a “jury trial.” You should enter a plea of “not guilty” and ask for a jury trial in order to preserve all of your rights until you have had an opportunity to retain an attorney.

In some instances, we can waive your arraignment and enter your not guilty plea administratively. We do this to avoid an additional court appearance for our clients especially, if they are working or have children at home. We can do this on most cases that are not domestic violence or DUI.

At the arraignment the judge will decide whether you will be released on your personal recognizance or whether bail will be set. The judge will also decide whether any conditions should be imposed while your case is pending.

If the court imposes bail you can typically post cash or bond. This means…

The conditions that could be imposed will depend on your individual case. The conditions can include not driving after having consumed any alcohol, not consuming alcohol or non-prescribed medications, not drive unless you are properly licensed and insured, AA meetings, or installation of an interlock device. On domestic violence cases, the court can order an “no contact order.” This would prohibit the accused from having any contact with the alleged victim in the case. Not all of these conditions will be imposed on every case. The conditions that will be imposed on you case will depend on the facts and circumstances of your case.

The judge or the court staff will then give you your next court date. Your next court date is typically called a pretrial hearing.