LegalTerms

Information: The charging document presented to the defendant with the crimes he/she is charged with; as well as the arresting officer’s report of the incident.
Initial Appearance: The first time the defendant is before the judge and hears the charges. The defendant may then, proceed to Arraignment.
Arraignment: When the defendant pleads Guilty or Not Guilty. He is then given dates of Hearings he must attend, and that, which he does not.
Omnibus: The first official Hearing; the Defense and the State decide on what may or may not be brought up in Trial. The defendant needs not attend this Hearing. It is usually handled by a document titled, Omnibus Memorandum. There is usually not a formal Hearing, but a submission of the memorandum to the judge.
Pre-Trial Conference: This is the Hearing where both the State and Defense discuss what will be brought up during the Jury Trial. They will also decide what Motions each side will bring to the Court, how many jurors will be pulled, and which witnesses will testify. The defendant must always attend this Hearing.
Change of Plea: When a defendant and their attorney make a deal with the State; where lessor charges are dismissed or lowered, in an exchange of a Guilty plea to one or more of the charges. It is usually done at the Pre-Trial Conference and scheduled at a later date; sometimes it takes place of a Pre-Trial Conference.
Elocution: At a Change of Plea; the defendant relates what happened at the time in question that proves his Guilt. Usually, the defending attorney assists the defendant by asking pertinent questions of the defendant.
Pre-Sentence Investigation: After the Change of Plea, before the judge pronounces Sentence; an Investigation is done, which shows the defendant’s criminal history, his life, and other things, which may be pertinent to the judge’s decision. The defendant must cooperate with Adult Probation & Parole’s execution of this document.
With Prejudice: Whereas a case is dismissed permanently.
Without Prejudice: Whereas a case is dismissed temporarily. This temporary dismissal means that the plaintiff may re-file charges, alter the claim, or bring the case to a different court.