There is at the federal level. In a federal criminal case the federal rules of criminal procedure require a person making an arrest within the United States must take the defendant without unnecessary delay before a magistrate judge or before a state or local judicial officer. This must take place very soon after the arrest. The arraignment then takes place later.
Federal Requirements at Arraignment: Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 10(a) states the following:
(a) In General.
An arraignment must be conducted in open court and must consist of:
(1) ensuring that the defendant has a copy of the indictment or information;
(2) reading the indictment or information to the defendant or stating to the defendant the substance of the charge; and then
(3) asking the defendant to plead to the indictment or information.
- After a person is booked, what happens next?
- Is a person entitled to an attorney during the booking process?
- When a person is arrested and taken into custody, what happens next?
- What warnings must the police give you when they arrest you and place you in custody?
- What is an arrest?
- How does the criminal process begin?
- What felonies can lead to the death penalty?
- What are some examples of how states define first degree murder?
- What is a wobbler?
- What are the legal results of a felony conviction?
- What are examples of crimes that constitute felonies?
- Who determines whether conduct constitutes a felony or a misdemeanor?
- What are the basic types of crimes?
- Is a trial judge required to give a definition of beyond a reasonable doubt?
- What exactly does beyond a reasonable doubt mean?
- What classic definition of beyond a reasonable doubt did Chief Justice Shaw provide?
- What distinguishes criminal law from civil law?
- What is a crime?
- Why is legal language sometimes hard to understand?
- If a party loses, what are his or her legal options?
