"Arraignments" in Nevada Law
Las Vegas Criminal Defense Lawyers
After you’re arrested for a crime you’re given a date to appear in court to answer to the charges. This initial court hearing is called an "arraignment" in Las Vegas, Nevada criminal law.
It’s very important you and/or your attorney show up to your Nevada arraignment. Ditching an arraignment will cause the judge to issue a Las Vegas bench warrant for your arrest.
Below our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys explain what you need to know about arraignments in Nevada.
What is an arraignment in
Las Vegas, NV?
An arraignment hearing is typically the first court appearance in the life of a criminal case. It’s where charges are formally brought against you and where you enter an initial plea.
What happens at an arraignment in Las Vegas, NV?
After the judge calls your case, you and/or your attorney appear in front of the judge. The judge then recites the charges against you and asks whether you plead guilty or not guilty.
In most cases you will plead "not guilty" at a Las Vegas arraignment. This doesn’t prevent you from later pleading guilty (or no contest) as part of a plea bargain. If you’re in custody your lawyer may also ask the judge for you to be released or for a bail reduction in Nevada.
Once you plead "not guilty" the judge will then give you another court date. Depending on the case the next date will be for either a trial, pretrial, status check or preliminary hearing in Nevada.
Nevada arraignments are typically very short, sometimes less than a minute.
What happens after an arraignment in
Las Vegas, NV?
Your lawyer will then ask the prosecutors for a copy of your "discovery." Discovery is the state’s evidence in your case such as police reports, surveillance tapes and forensic test results.
Meanwhile your attorney will try to negotiate a favorable plea bargain with the prosecutor. Most cases end in pleas where your charges are reduced or even dropped without a trial.
If the prosecutor won’t agree to a fair plea bargain then your attorney should discuss with you the possibility of going to trial.
How soon do arraignments occur in
Las Vegas, NV?
It depends on your case.
Some arraignments don’t occur until weeks after you were originally cited, arrested or summoned. But if you’re in custody and can’t bail out, your initial arraignment must be held within 2 court days of your arrest.
Do I need to be present in court for my arraignment in Las Vegas, NV?
Again, it depends on your particular case.
If you were charged with a misdemeanor in Nevada your attorney can usually appear on your behalf. But if you were charged with a felony in Las Vegas it’s likely you’ll need to be present as well.
What if I miss my arraignment in Las Vegas, NV?
If neither you nor your lawyer shows up to your arraignment the consequences are very serious. The judge will issue a Las Vegas bench warrant for your arrest that could include hefty fines.
If you missed your arraignment it’s important you retain counsel right away. Your attorney can file a motion with the court to "quash" your bench warrant within a few days.
Accused of a crime? Call us now ...
Call our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys at 702-DEFENSE (333-3673) to talk for free. We may be able to appear in court without you having to show up at all. And we may be able to get your charges reduced or dismissed so your record remains clean.
For more information refer to our article on preliminary hearing in Las Vegas; bail reduction in Nevada; misdemeanor in Nevada; and felony in Las Vegas. And to learn about the California arraignment process, go to our informational webpage on the California arraignment process.
