Arraignment
A court proceeding in which the defendant is formally charged with a crime and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Encyclopedia entry: Arraignment
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arraignment
An arraignment is the first step in a criminal proceeding where the defendant is brought in front of the court to hear the charges against them and enter a plea .
See, e.g. _County of Riverside v. McLaughlin 500 U.S. 44 (1991) _ and _Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389 (1993) _.
[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team
]
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.