Arrest & Initial Appearance
Soon after your arrest, agents will bring you to court before a magistrate judge. The charges against you will be contained in a complaint with an affidavit that summarizes the evidence against you, or in an indictment returned by a grand jury. The magistrate judge will explain your rights and make sure that you understand what the prosecutor claims you did. If you cannot afford an attorney, you will fill out a financial form (signed under penalty of perjury) to show that you cannot afford to hire your own lawyer. If the magistrate finds that you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, either a Deputy Federal Public Defender (DFPD) or a member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel will be appointed to represent you. You always have the right to hire a lawyer of your choice, even if the magistrate initially appoints a DFPD or a CJA lawyer.
Arraignment
Once the prosecutor files an indictment against you, you will appear before the magistrate to be arraigned on the formal charges. If you were indicted before you were arrested, your initial appearance and arraignment will happen at the same time. You will be asked to read and sign a statement of your constitutional rights. The magistrate judge also will advise you about your constitutional rights. The magistrate will ask if you understand what the prosecutor claims that you did. You then will be asked to enter a plea to the charges. Unless you have previously worked out a deal with the prosecution before your arraignment, generally you will enter a not guilty plea at your arraignment. Your case then will be randomly assigned by computer to the district judge who will preside over the rest of your case. At this point, you will work in close consultation with your attorney as your case progresses.