This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
When you are charged with a felony in Georgia, the court will schedule a formal hearing called an arraignment. At this hearing, the charges against you are read aloud and you enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This usually happens within 30 days after you are indicted.
You have the right to have a lawyer with you at your arraignment. If you cannot afford one, the court must give you time to get a lawyer before the hearing takes place. You can also waive, or skip, the formal reading of the charges if you want to move things along faster.
If you do not show up for your arraignment, the court can enter a "not guilty" plea for you and the case will keep moving forward. Missing this hearing can also lead to other consequences, so it is important to appear when scheduled.
