What’s an arraignment? An arraignment is the first court-based process that takes place after the arrest, booking, and initial bail phase of the criminal process. During an arraignment, a criminal court judge will: read the criminal charges and ask the defendant if he or she has an attorney. maintain how the defendant “pleads to” the criminal charges: “guilty”, “not guilty”, or “no contest”. decide whether to alter the bail amount or release the defendant on his or her own recognizance (ROR). Future case proceedings, including the preliminary hearing, pre-trial motions, and trial will also be announced at your arraignment. An...