§ 253 Defendant to be examined.

When a person is brought before a judge (called a magistrate) on a criminal charge, the judge has to start looking at the case right away. This happens without a jury. If the person has a lawyer, the judge starts as soon as the lawyer shows up. If the person doesn't have a lawyer yet but needs one, the judge waits a fair amount of time to let them get one before moving forward.

During this hearing, the defendant has the choice to testify about what happened. If they decide to speak, they must first take an oath to tell the truth, just like anyone would in a regular civil court case. The defendant isn't required to testify, but if they choose to, the same rules apply as in other types of court cases.

This rule basically sets up the first step in the criminal court process. It makes sure the case gets looked at quickly, but also gives the defendant a fair chance to have a lawyer present before things move forward.