What to expect if you have criminal charges in Page, Arizona
What to expect if you have been charged in the Page Magistrate or Justice Court:
Initial appearance
If you are arrested and held in custody, you will appear before the judge at your Initial Appearance. The judge will set your release conditions and schedule an Arraignment Hearing date. However, if you are provided with a summons or citation, you will not have an Initial Appearance, rather your first court date will be at your Arraignment Hearing.
Arraignment
At the Arraignment Hearing the judge will read the charges against you, explain your rights, review your possible penalties, and ask how you wish to plead, guilty or not guilty. If this is your first hearing date, the judge will also set your release conditions.
Pre-Trial Conference
In the Page Magistrate Court and Page Justice Court, a Pre-Trial Conference is typically a meeting between the prosecutor and the defendant or their attorney to discuss the case, exchange evidence, and/or negotiate a plea agreement. This meeting is designed to resolve the matter or to prepare the matter for trial.
Pre-Trial Evidentiary Motions and Hearings
These hearings address issues of procedure, release conditions, evidence, due process, and constitutional violations. These motions and hearings often require the filing of a written motion and the presentation of evidence.
Trial
If your matter is not resolved before trial, the Judge will set a trial date. Depending on your charge(s), your matter either will be eligible to be heard by a jury or via bench trial. A bench trial is a trial by judge. You typically must appear in person at the Page Magistrate Court or Page Justice Court for your trial. If you fail to appear at your trial, the judge may continue the trial in your absence (in absentia) and/or the judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest. At the trial, the prosecutor will present their case, and you or your attorney will cross-examine witnesses, present evidence, and you may decide to take to the witness stand in your own defense. The jury or judge will then decide if you are guilty of the charge(s).
Sentencing
If you are found to guilty, whether through a plea agreement or trial, the judge will impose a sentence. This could include jail time, fines, probation, or a combination of penalties. You have the right to an appeal, filing for your appeal is very time sensitive.
What are the differences between the Page Magistrate Court and Page Justice Court?
The Page Magistrate Court is the judicial branch of the City of Page. The Page Magistrate Court possesses jurisdiction over a range of matters, including civil traffic, criminal traffic, criminal misdemeanors, and infractions of city ordinances.
The Page Justice Court Precinct of Coconino County includes the City of Page and encompasses the majority of the U.S. Route 89 in Northeastern Arizona. The Page Justice Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It only has the power to hear cases related to traffic offenses, local criminal cases, small claims cases with claimed damages under $3,500, other civil lawsuits with claimed damages under $10,000, domestic violence and restraining order cases, and disputes between landlords and their tenants.
Contact The 928 Law Firm today for a free consultation!
If you you've received criminal charges in the City of Page either through the Page Magistrate Court or the Page Justice Court, contact The 928 Law Firm for a free consultation using the information below. We look forward to working with you!