First Appearance

You must appear before the judge at the time and place indicated in the document you have received.

At your first appearance, you must be informed of the charges against you. For this reason, the appearance always begins with a reading of the charges laid in the information.

A the appearance, you may:

• plead guilty and receive your sentence immediately;
• plead not guilty, in which case the judge will set a date for the trial;
• ask to see the prosecution evidence and ask to postpone the date on which you enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

In some cases, you may choose for your trial to take place:

• before a judge;
• before a judge and jury.