If the Defendant is a No-Show. Find out what happens if the party you sue fails to show up at court. If one party to a case doesn't appear in court on the proper day at the proper time, the case is normally decided in favor of the other. Before doing so, the judge will verify that the defendant was properly served with court papers and that neither party requested a postponement.
Arraignment â Initial Court Appearance. In New York City, defendants are brought before a judge for arraignment within 24 hours of arrest. After the case has been docketed by the court and the complaint and the accusedâs criminal history are ready, the defendant is brought to Criminal Court for arraignment.
A criminal case consists of a number of phases, from the initial arrest to sentencing and possible appeal. The following is an overview of what to expect during the pre-trial phase of a criminal case. The arraignment is the first court proceeding in a criminal case. 2  The judge reads the criminal charges against the person, asks them if they have an attorney, and asks them to enter their plea (usually guilty, not guilty, or no contest).