If you have received a summons from the Glendale City Court Criminal Division, or a citation/complaint from a police officer, you may need to appear in court for an arraignment. If so, you have the right to retain a criminal defense attorney beforehand to accompany you to your arraignment. On your court date, a judge will formally inform you of the criminal allegations against you. After that, the judge will ask you to respond to the charges and you must decide to enter a plea of either “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “plea of no contest.” This decision should not be taken lightly, as your answer affects the final outcome of your case. The judge cannot give you any legal advice to help you make a decision about your plea. Therefore, you will want to consider the potential ramifications that your plea may have on your future before you set foot in court.
Although an arraignment may seem like a pretty straightforward process, you may not know all of the complexities within the Arizona criminal justice system. Further, it might be difficult for you to gauge the severity of your potential punishment should you choose to plead “guilty” without at least talking to a JacksonWhite criminal defense attorney first. You should exercise your right to retain a criminal defense lawyer before your arraignment date, even if you plan on admitting to the crime. Beyond just representing you in court, a criminal defense attorney from JacksonWhite can also negotiate to reduce the punishment for your crime.
For more information, contact criminal defense attorney Jeremy Geigle. Jeremy has defended numerous individuals facing criminal charges in Glendale, Arizona and can assess your case during a free criminal consultation, call (480) 818-9943.