Magistrate Court arraignments for both...

• A. Misdemeanors and Felonies
• B. Only Misdemeanors
• C. Only Felonies
• D. Civil infractions

Answer: (A)

Arraignment is the first formal court step after arrest where the charges are read, the defendant is told their rights, and the defendant can enter a plea and address bail. In many jurisdictions, the magistrate court handles this initial appearance for criminal cases, encompassing both misdemeanors and felonies. The key idea is to notify the defendant of exactly what they’re charged with and secure their rights early in the process, regardless of whether the offense is a misdemeanor or a felony. The actual trial for felonies usually happens in a higher court, but the arraignment itself commonly occurs in magistrate court to kick off the case. Civil infractions are non-criminal violations and don’t go through the criminal arraignment process, which is why they don’t fit the scenario.