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
Related Articles
Why Utah Is Quietly Moving Away From the Death Penalty
Utah hasn’t officially abolished the death penalty. But in practice, the state is using it less and less. The reasons for that shift go beyond...
September 11, 2025
State v. Menzies, 2025 UT 38
August 30, 2025 - The Utah Supreme Court has halted the execution of death row inmate Ralph Leroy Menzies, ruling that the district court erred when...
September 11, 2025
State v. Barner, 2020 UT App 68
In this appeal the court addressed their standard for review when looking at an issue of a district court's denial of a motion for a directed...
September 11, 2025
Ready to explore our other articles?