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Court - Criminal Law (News)

1. Following Arrests - Arraignment
  • Plea
  • Bail. (Higher, lower than requested; conditional release.)
  • Behavior, statements of defendant.
  • Statements of prosecutor, defense lawyer, judge.
  • Summary of crime.
2. Preliminary hearing
  • Statements of prosecutor, defense lawyer.
  • Plea bargaining arranged?
  • Summary of crime.
  • Judge’s decision.
3. Indictment/Information
  • Grand jury action: true bill, no bill.
  • Information filed. (Judge decides at preliminary hearing whether there is cause for trial.)
4. Subsequent Procedures
  • Rearrangement, pretrial motions, jury selection, trial.
Trial Procedure
Opening statements, prosecution presents case, defense cross-examine, redirect examination by prosecution, defense motions, defense calls witnesses, prosecution, cross-examination defense witnesses, defense may redirect examination of its witnesses, rebuttals (witnesses may be recalled; judge may permit new witnesses), closing arguments, judge charges or instructs jury, jury deliberations, verdict, sentence.