When is my court date?

The initial court appearance is called the Arraignment and typically takes place thirty days after an arrest. An arraignment serves as a preliminary hearing to formally inform you of the charges brought against you by the state. During the arraignment, the judge will also inquire about your plea of guilty or not guilty, as well as whether you have legal representation. In most cases, it is advisable to enter a plea of not guilty unless your attorney and the prosecutor have come to a different resolution for strategic purposes. With very few exceptions, once you engage the services of legal representative John Smith, the arraignment is waived and you are not required to appear in court. For misdemeanor cases, you can have your presence at future court dates waived by submitting a written waiver to the court. However, except for a few circumstances, you must attend all hearings for felony cases.