What happens at the first court hearing (arraignment)?
An arraignment is the first court hearing after the defendant has been charged. The defendant appears before the Judge and is informed of the charges against him/her as well as his/her legal rights. The defendant may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. On a plea of guilty, the case ends and there is no need for a trial. The defendant may be sentenced and ordered to have no contact with the victim, complete domestic violence treatment, drug/alcohol and/or mental health treatment, etc. On a plea of not guilty, the case is set for pretrial and the Judge may impose conditions of release. As the victim, you can attend the arraignment hearing but you are not required to be present. The Victim Advocate can speak on your behalf. The Judge can issue a No Contact Order at this hearing prohibiting the defendant from all contact with the victim (even if the victim does not want one) and also restrain the defendant from returning to the shared residence. Domestic violence arraignments are schedul
