When you get arrested, it can be rather frightening. There are so many legal terms and steps in the court process that are completely unfamiliar. The good news is that when you work with Southern California’s top criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm, he will walk you through each step and explain everything so you won’t have to worry.
What is an Arraignment?
An arraignment is the very first formal step in the court process in a criminal case. It’s the first thing that happens after you get arrested, and usually occurs within 48 hours if you are in custody. If you post bail or are released on your own recognizance, the arraignment can occur several weeks after your arrest. The main purpose of an arraignment is to officially enter a plea—guilty, no contest, or not guilty. Many times, the date and time of your arraignment will be listed on the citation the arresting officer gives you, so it’s essential that you keep track of it after your arrest. If you post bail, your bail bond company will keep track of your court date as well.
How long will it take?
Your arraignment will only take about 5-10 minutes, but you should plan on being at the courthouse for about 2 hours. This is because there will likely be many more people scheduled to have arraignments at the same time as you, so you’ll have to wait for your turn to enter your plea.
What should my plea be?
It depends on your situation. It’s essential that you contact attorney Dan Chambers as soon as you possibly can after your arrest so he can advise you on the best legal course of action to avoid penalties.
Most people enter a plea of “not guilty” because it gives them time to prepare an adequate defense. Those who immediately enter a plea of “guilty” will be sentenced by the judge immediately—you won’t even be able to provide any justification before the judge imposes a sentence on you, which could be on your permanent record forever. Even if you do consider yourself to be guilty of all charges, it is almost always best to plea “not guilty” to avoid having the maximum penalty imposed right away. You’ll be buying yourself time and opening a window of opportunity to defend yourself with criminal defense lawyer Dan Chambers’ help.
Don’t worry, entering a “not guilty” plea isn’t considered lying to the court—it’s intentionally using your constitutionally-protected right to a fair trial.
What should I do to prepare for the arraignment?
The most important way to prepare is to speak with criminal defense attorney Dan Chambers about your case so he can start establishing your defense strategy. Other important considerations to make before your arraignment include:
- Show up at least 15 minutes early, but be prepared to wait.
- When you enter the court room, check in with the bailiff or clerk, whoever is closest to you. Don’t approach the judge without permission from either the bailiff or judge.
- Pay attention to others’ arraignments so you know what exactly will happen when you are called so you don’t waste anyone’s time.
- Respond immediately when the judge calls your name.
- When the judge asks if you understand the charges, say yes if you do. If you don’t understand them, ask the judge to explain them. This isn’t an open-ended question and you’re not admitting any guilt by acknowledging you understand the charges.
- Decide what your plea will be, with your lawyer’s help, before attending your arraignment.
For more legal counsel about your arraignment, contact Dan Chambers of the Chambers Law Firm today at 714-760-4088. He will be glad to go over the specifics of your case and offer you free legal advice during your initial consultation.
