Q: what happens at an arraignment
A: At an arraignment, several things will happen in court. The judge advises the defendant of the charges - including exactly what is alleged, what the maximum possible penalty is within the law and then the judge will enter the defendant's initial plea of not guilty. Then the judge will order the prosecution to disclose to the defense a list of witness and evidence that may be used against him at trial. After that, the judge will set a pretrial date.
A: Basically, formal reading of the criminal charges and their penalties, with a requirement for the defendant to plea (answer guilty or not guilty to the charges).
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