Either the same day or the day after a defendant is arrested and charged, they are brought before a magistrate judge for an initial hearing on the case.
What is the date of the arraignment?
An arraignment is usually the first court hearing in a criminal case. At an arraignment hearing, the accused enters a plea (guilty, not guilty or no contest), the issue of bail and release is determined, and a future court date is set – usually for the pretrial or, in a felony case, the preliminary hearing.
How long does it take to get an arraignment date?
Answer. For suspects who are in custody, some kind of court appearance (usually an "arraignment" or "initial appearance") must typically occur within two or three days. At that court appearance, the government presents the charges against the defendant.