Arraignment is the term used for the time scheduled for a defendant to appear in court to enter a plea.
If you are a Kansas resident or if you are charged with a traffic infraction, a notice to appear in court for arraignment will be delivered to you in person or by mail.
If you are not a Kansas resident and you are charged with an offense other than a traffic infraction, you will be placed in custody and required to post a bond prior to release. If you are unable to post a bond, a hearing before a judge will take place within 18 hours.
At the arraignment you will be given an opportunity to enter a plea. If you signed a traffic ticket in front of an officer, it does not mean you have entered a plea; it means you have promised to appear.
You may enter a plea of:
- Guilty: you admit to committing the act charged, that the act is unlawful, and that you have no defense for the act. In most minor traffic cases, a guilty plea and fine will be accepted through the mail or via our Web site.
- Not guilty: you deny guilt and that the city must prove in trial that the charges are true beyond a reasonable doubt. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- No contest: you do not wish to contest the city's charge. Upon a plea of no contest, the judge will enter a finding of guilty and order a fine, jail time or other sentence. A plea of no contest is not an admission of fault and cannot be used against you in a civil suit for damages.
The Right to an Attorney
In all Municipal Court cases, you have a right to representation by an attorney.
When charged with an offense that may result in jail time, you must decide
whether to proceed with or without an attorney. If you want an attorney but
cannot afford to hire one, the judge will appoint an attorney after finding
that you do not have the financial means to hire one.
Next step > Plea Agreement