At a Glendale City Court arraignment, the defendant must enter their plea with a Judge. In general, when the defendant enters a plea at an arraignment, it means that they are responding to their alleged charges. Defendants in Arizona must enter one of the following 3 pleas at their Glendale City Court arraignment:
- ‘Not Guilty’ - When a defendant enters a plea of ‘ Not Guilty’ they are essentially telling the court that they do not admit to committing the crime. If a defendant decides to deny guilt and enter a plea of ‘Not Guilty,’ the city prosecutor’s office will then have to prove the charges against the defendant.
- ‘Guilty’ – When a defendant enters a plea of ‘Guilty,’ they are informing the court that they admit to committing the crime and that they have no legal defense for their criminal actions.
- ‘No Contest’ - When a defendant enters a plea of ‘No Contest,’ they are telling the court that they are not admitting guilt, nor are they denying guilt. In general, entering a plea of ‘No Contest,’ means that the defendant does not want to challenge their alleged charges. This plea also means that the defendant does not choose to challenge their alleged charges. As a result, a judgment of guilt is entered by the Judge.
The court cannot provide a defendant with any advice or legal assistance regarding their plea. As a result, Arizona defendants should consult with an attorney who has extensive knowledge of the Glendale City Court arraignment process. Furthermore, a criminal defense attorney can also analyze different aspects of a case to help a defendant make an informed decision regarding their plea. Jeremy Geigle, JacksonWhite’s criminal defense attorney, understands the Glendale City Court arraignment process and can assess your particular case during a free criminal consultation. For more information or to schedule your consultation with Jeremy, call (480) 818-9943.