You have just completed the Arraignment in your case. At the Arraignment, the judge told you the charges you are facing, set a bond, and you were referred to the Office of Assigned Counsel for an appointed lawyer. Also, you entered a plea of not guilty (or the judge entered a not guilty plea on your behalf). The purpose of this website page is to answer some of the questions you probably have about your situation.
WHO IS MY LAWYER?
The lawyer assigned to your case depends upon the type of charges filed against you. You will be assigned a lawyer from this office or a lawyer from a list of approved attorneys by the Manager of Assigned Counsel. All assignments are made within 24-48 hours of your Arraignment. To find out which attorney has been assigned to your case, call (989) 790-5207. Please wait I to 2 days after your Arraignment before calling.
Our office receives paperwork from the Court about 2 to 3 days after the Arraignment. The police reports are not part of the Court paperwork. The assigned lawyers must get the police reports from the prosecutor. Every case is different, but your lawyer should receive the main police report before your next court date, which is called a Preliminary Examination Conference.
If you are in jail, your attorney should visit you before your next court date. If you are out on bond, you should call your lawyer to discuss your case. If your lawyer is not available, please leave a telephone number where you may be reached. It is extremely important that you keep your lawyer updated with your current address and phone numbers from the beginning to the end of your case.
TIMELINE OF COURT DATES
Each felony case has a general timeline for how the case moves through the system. Usually, for a felony case, the timeline is:
Arraignment à Pre-Exam Conference à Preliminary Exam à à Status Conference ààJury Trial
7-14 Days 5-7 Days 30-60 Days 30-60 Days
You should have received a court notice from the court or the jail with your court dates. You need to attend every court date listed. The following is a brief explanation of each court date for a felony case:
Arraignment: Is the first appearance in a criminal case. The judge tells you what your charges are, enters a plea of not guilty on your behalf, decides whether you qualify for an appointed lawyer, and sets bond.
Pre-Exam Conference (PEC): Is the first court date in front of the judge assigned to your case. Before the PEC, you and your lawyer will discuss your background, the police reports, the charges, and your options. At the PEC, you will decide the next step in your case: whether to have a Preliminary Examination or not.
Preliminary Exam (PE): Is a court hearing where the prosecutor must present witnesses and evidence to prove to the judge that there is enough evidence (probable cause) for a case to go to trial. The PE is not a trial and does not decide innocence or guilt. Charges can be added or dismissed at the hearing. The judge can also make changes to your bond conditions.