“Arraignment” in Colorado Criminal Cases – How It Works

An arraignment hearing is generally the first court appearance in a Colorado criminal case. At the hearing, three key things happen:

1. you get advised of the charges,
2. you enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, and
3. the judge sets the case for further proceedings.

In felony cases, you must always be present at the arraignment. In misdemeanor cases, your defense attorney generally may appear without you present if the court permits.

This chart shows where an arraignment fits in within the life cycle of a criminal case:

In this article, our Colorado criminal defense lawyers will explain:

• 1. What happens at the arraignment hearing?
• 2. Do I have to be there in person?
• 3. Should I plead guilty or not-guilty?
• 4. What do I do after an arraignment?

1. What happens at the arraignment hearing?

During your arraignment, the judge will read out the formal criminal charges against you. Then you must enter a plea.

Most people plead not guilty. You can always change your plea to guilty or no contest at a later date.

What next?

After pleading not guilty, the judge will put your case down for another court date, generally the pretrial conference.

The arraignment process in most Colorado criminal cases may only last a couple of minutes.¹

What else should I know?

Depending on the court, type of criminal offense, and other factors, your arraignment may be held within a few days or a few weeks after your arrest.

Most misdemeanors in Colorado are handled by the County Courts. An arraignment for a felony complaint may be handled by the District Courts.

Like many parts of the legal process, an arraignment may be confusing to first time defendants. This is why it is recommended to use the time between the arrest and arraignment to find an experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney who will represent you in your criminal case.

2. Do I have to be there in person?

Whether or not you have to appear in person may depend on your specific case.

If you were charged with a minor crime or misdemeanor, you may be able to have your attorney appear in court for your arraignment. However, if you were charged with a felony, you will probably need to appear in person before a judge in the appropriate Colorado District Court.

The importance of going to court

There may be a number of factors that make it difficult for you to appear in person for your arraignment, including

• work schedule,
• transportation difficulty,
• living in a different city or state, or
• if you have to stay at home to care for a family member.

However, you should never skip the arraignment or any court hearing without getting approval ahead of time from the court. If you fail to show up, the court may issue a bench warrant for your arrest (this is different from an arrest warrant). This could result in

• jail time and
• expensive fines.

Consult an attorney

Talk to your Colorado attorney well before your arraignment date to find out if you have to appear in person. They will advise you whether you have to be there or not.

In many cases, your attorney can

• appear on your behalf,
• inform the court that you are pleading not guilty, and
• get the date for your next court appearance.²

3. Should I plead guilty or not-guilty?

In nearly all cases, you should plead not guilty during the arraignment. At that point you and your attorney can determine how to fight the charges.

If you plead guilty, you give up your opportunity to fight the charge at trial. The next step will be sentencing.

If you have any questions about how you should plead during the arraignment, talk to your attorney.³

4. What do I do after an arraignment?

After the arraignment, your case will proceed to the pretrial hearing. If you are facing a felony charge, the court may schedule a preliminary hearing.

At this point, your attorney can access the state’s evidence against you. This may include

• a police report,
• chemical test evidence,
• witness statements,
• surveillance footage, and
• other evidence or documentation.

Once your attorney has a chance to evaluate the case, they will have a better idea of how strong the Colorado prosecutor’s case is against you.

Pretrial process

Your next court appearance may be weeks away, and you may be wondering what you should do during this time. The criminal court process in Colorado can be slow, especially if there are a lot of pre-trial motions.

This can be a very stressful time, especially for someone who has never had any experience with the criminal justice system. This is why it is important to have a Colorado criminal defense attorney who keeps you informed and communicates the progress of your case.

Plea v. trial

Most criminal cases resolve with a plea agreement (“plea bargain”), where you enter a plea of

• guilty or
• no contest.

However, you also have the choice to have a bench trial or a jury trial instead. At trial, the state has the burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If you get convicted, the court would then hold a sentencing hearing.

Call us for help…

If you have any questions about an arraignment or any other part of the criminal court process in Colorado, please contact us at Colorado Legal Defense Group to discuss creating an attorney-client relationship. We serve clients in Denver, Greeley, Colorado Springs, and throughout the state.

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Legal References