What is a court-martial arraignment?
A court-martial arraignment is the first step in the military criminal process in Colorado. It occurs when the accused is brought before a court-martial and the nature of the charges against him or her are formally presented. The purpose of an arraignment is to inform the accused of the charges against him or her, to specify the type of court-martial, and to determine whether they will plead guilty or not guilty. The arraignment begins with the prosecutor reading the charges to the accused, who is present at the court. The accused is then asked to enter a plea. If the accused pleads guilty, the court-martial proceeds to sentencing immediately. If the accused enters a plea of not guilty, then the court-martial will continue with a trial. The accused can also negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution. This occurs when the accused pleads guilty to some of the charges in order to reduce the amount of time they will serve in prison or eliminate the possibility of further prosecution. The arraignment hearing is an important part of the military criminal process because it sets into motion the process for determining guilt or innocence. It provides the accused the opportunity to present their defense, and to challenge evidence that is presented against them. It also serves to protect the accused’s rights by ensuring they are being tried in accordance with the law.
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