What happens at an arraignment conference?
After a defendant has been indicted by the grand jury, the defendant must appear in court for an arraignment conference. At the arraignment conference, the defendant formally enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. The State also makes a plea offer. Usually, the plea offer calls for a stiffer penalty than the offer made at the early disposition conference (EDC). If the defendant pleads guilty, the case is scheduled for sentencing. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the case is scheduled for a pre-trial conference. The defendant has until the pre-trial conference to consider the plea offer.
