The first hearing in a misdemeanor criminal case is normally the “arraignment” hearing, where the judge will read the charges formally filed in the case and ask the defendant to enter plea of either guilty or not guilty. In Utah felony cases, the arraignment does not occur until after the case has been “bound over” for trial in the district court. The first felony court hearing is sometimes referred to simply as an “initial appearance” or “felony first hearing.”
What is the first felony court hearing in Utah?
Posted by Stone River Criminal Defense Team
Last Updated: January 14, 2025
The first hearing in a misdemeanor criminal case is normally the “arraignment” hearing, where the judge will read the charges formally filed in the case and ask the defendant to enter plea of either guilty or not guilty. In Utah felony cases, the arraignment does not occur until after the case has been “bound over” […]

Originally Published: November 20, 2023
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