What is the purpose of an arraignment?

In the state of California, an arraignment is a formal court proceeding that marks the start of criminal proceedings against a person who has been charged with a crime. During an arraignment, the criminal defendant is formally informed of the charges they are facing and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The purpose of an arraignment is to establish how the criminal defendant wishes to respond to the charges brought against them. At the arraignment hearing, the criminal defendant will usually be presented with the criminal complaint and any other documents related to the case. The criminal defendant is usually represented by an attorney at this hearing and may also bring witnesses to support their defense. The judge read aloud the charges and ask the defendant to enter a plea. In California, if the criminal defendant pleads guilty or no contest, then sentencing typically follows immediately. If the criminal defendant pleads not guilty, then the matter proceeds through additional hearings including a pretrial conference and a trial. The arraignment hearing is an important part of the criminal process in California as it establishes how the criminal defendant is responding to the charges against them.

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What is the purpose of an arraignment?

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