Arraignment is the term used for the time scheduled for a defendant to appear in court to enter a plea. At the arraignment you will be given an opportunity to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. Arraignments are held on Wednesdays starting at 8:30 a.m. at Municipal Court, 5860 Renner Road.
- Pleading Guilty means you admit to committing the act charged, that the act is unlawful, and you have no defense for the act. In most minor traffic cases, a guilty plea and fine will be accepted through the mail.
- Pleading Not Guilty means you deny guilt and the City must prove in trial that the charges are true beyond a reasonable doubt. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If you plead Not Guilty, you will be given a trial date to return. Cases cannot be tried during arraignment dockets.
- Pleading No Contest means you do not wish to contest the City's charge. Upon a plea of no contest, the Judge will enter a finding of guilty and order a fine, jail time or other sentence. A plea of no contest is not an admission of fault and cannot be used against you in a civil suit for damages.
In all Municipal Court cases, you have a right to representation by an attorney. However, if you are charged with an offense that may result in jail time, you must decide whether to proceed with or without an attorney. If you choose to proceed without an attorney, you must sign a written Waiver of Counsel. If the offense that you are charged with could result in a jail sentence and you cannot afford to hire an attorney, the Judge will appoint an attorney after finding that you do not have the financial means to hire one.