If arrested for a felony, normally the arraignment follows the day after the arrest. Felony arraignments are held before a judge or magistrate who sets a date for a preliminary exam within 14 calendar days following arraignment. If eligible and able to post bond, a person is released to appear on the scheduled preliminary examination date. If not eligible for a bond or unable to post the set bond, a person is remanded to the county jail until the scheduled preliminary examination date. You may hire your own attorney, or if you are indigent, you may petition the court for a court appointed attorney.
Forms are available at the court.
After an arraignment on a felony charge, the next step in the legal process is to appear before the District Court judge for a preliminary examination. The county prosecuting attorney will be in court to present the prosecutions case. After hearing the evidence presented at the preliminary examination, the judge determines if there is probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and whether or not there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed that crime. It is suggested that legal counsel represent you at this hearing. You may hire your own attorney or if you are indigent, you may petition the court for a court appointed attorney.