Entity: defendant
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defendant

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At a federal criminal arraignment, a judge typically formally informs a defendant of the charges, provides an opportunity to enter a plea, may consider terms of pretrial release, and can set a trial date or a date to hear pretrial motions.
October 08, 2025 high procedural
General description of common procedures at federal criminal arraignments.
Being released on one's own recognizance means a defendant is not required to post bail to be released from custody pretrial.
October 08, 2025 high definition
Legal definition of an own-recognizance (OR) release in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Courts can require a recognizance bond if a defendant who was released on their own recognizance fails to appear for required proceedings.
October 08, 2025 high procedural
Condition and enforcement measure related to own-recognizance releases.
When a defendant surrenders for arraignment, they are typically booked the same day, a process that ordinarily includes taking photographs and fingerprints and checking for outstanding warrants.
October 08, 2025 high procedural
Standard booking procedures associated with criminal arraignments.
An arraignment typically involves a court reading the charges to the defendant, the judge asking the defendant to enter a plea, and the judge outlining the next procedural steps in the case.
October 08, 2025 high procedural
General description of common criminal-court arraignment procedure in U.S. courts.
Preliminary hearings are court proceedings held to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a defendant to stand trial.
October 06, 2025 high legal
Defines the purpose of a preliminary hearing in criminal procedure.
During the penalty phase of a capital trial, prosecutors commonly emphasize aggravating factors such as the defendant's motive to persuade jurors to impose a harsher sentence, including the death penalty.
medium legal
The penalty phase focuses on factors that can increase culpability or justify harsher punishment, and motive is frequently presented as an aggravating circumstance.