How Cases Move Through Federal Courts
Criminal Cases
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Arraignment
After the grand jury issues the indictment, the accused person (the defendant) is summoned to court or arrested (if not already under arrest). The next step is an arraignment, a proceeding in which the defendant is brought before a judge, told of the charges he or she is accused of, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty. If the defendant’s plea is guilty, a time is set for the defendant to return to court to be sentenced. If the defendant pleads "not guilty," a time is set for the trial. A defendant may also enter a plea bargain with the prosecution--usually by agreeing to plead guilty to some but not all of the charges or to a lesser charge, in return for which the prosecution agrees to drop the remaining charges. About nine out of ten defendants in criminal cases plead guilty. |
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