Rule 10 Arraignment

Before a criminal trial can move forward, the person charged with a crime has to appear in open court for what's called an arraignment. This is a formal step that has to happen unless a specific exception under Rule 43 applies.

At the arraignment, three things need to take place. First, the defendant must have a copy of the official charges, whether that's an indictment, presentment, or information. Second, the court reads the charges out loud or explains what the charges mean in plain terms. Third, the defendant is asked to enter a plea, such as guilty or not guilty.

Everything that happens at the arraignment gets written into the official court record. This creates a permanent account of what charges were presented and how the defendant responded.

If more than one person is charged together in the same case, the court gets to decide whether to arraign them separately or all at once. This gives judges flexibility to handle cases in whatever way makes the most sense given the circumstances.