An arraignment is an early court appearance where charges are presented and the defendant is asked to enter a plea.
Arraignment is an early court hearing where the defendant is formally informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea.
Arraignment matters because it moves a criminal case from charging on paper into open court procedure. It is often the point where the defendant first hears the charges read in court, where counsel issues arise, and where scheduling and bail questions may be addressed.
It also matters because people often treat it as the trial itself. It is not. It is a procedural starting point, not the stage where guilt is decided.
The term appears on dockets, court calendars, criminal-procedure guides, and news reports about first appearances. It often follows an arrest, complaint, or indictment.
After a felony indictment, the defendant appears in court for arraignment, is advised of the charges, enters a not-guilty plea, and receives the next hearing date.
Arraignment is not the same as a plea bargain. At arraignment, the court formally processes the charge and plea. Negotiated plea resolution usually develops later. It is also not the same as the charging document itself, such as an indictment.