Articles Tagged with Michigan criminal procedure

For most people facing criminal charges in Michigan, their first court appearance is an arraignment, a proceeding that places them in an unfamiliar and often intimidating world. The language and rules are foreign, and the proceedings seem governed by customs everyone understands except them.

What makes the experience particularly frightening for our clients is finding themselves there as a criminal defendant, a role is usually profoundly inconsistent with your sense of who you are. Although an arraignment may last only a few minutes, what happens can have significant consequences for the rest of your case.

A Michigan criminal arraignment serves several purposes. It provides formal notice of the criminal accusation, establishes the conditions of any applicable bond, and in the most serious felonies, also involves a decision about whether the accused will remain in custody or be released while the case proceeds. For someone charged with drunk driving, a firearm offense, a sex crime, or another Michigan criminal offense, understanding this first step can reduce uncertainty and help avoid mistakes.