In a misdemeanor criminal case, the arraignment hearing is the first court hearing held. The judge will read the formal charges and ask the defendant to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The judge may also ask the defendant if an attorney has been hired, if a public defender is being requested, or if the defendant intends to represent himself.
What is an arraignment hearing?
Posted by Stone River Criminal Defense Team
Last Updated: January 14, 2025
In a misdemeanor criminal case, the arraignment hearing is the first court hearing held. The judge will read the formal charges and ask the defendant to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The judge may also ask the defendant if an attorney has been hired, if a public defender is being requested, or […]

Originally Published: November 20, 2023
Related Articles
State v Hintze, 2022 UT App 117
This appeal involves a question of whether a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial was violated after the State did not prosecute the...
July 16, 2025
Understanding the Rainbow of Collar Crime
When it comes to the difference between right and wrong we expect everything to be black and white. But when discussing types of crimes there is a...
July 15, 2025
Revenge, Forgiveness, and the Brain: Rethinking “An Eye for an Eye”
For centuries, justice meant one thing: an eye for an eye. You hurt me, I hurt you. It felt fair, direct, and final. But science tells a different...
July 15, 2025
Ready to explore our other articles?