arraignment is the defendant's first appearance in court. At arraignment, you can plead guilty or not guilty, or you can ask to speak with the prosecutor about any plea bargain possibilities.

You have the right to be arraigned without unnecessary delay after being arrested. You will appear before a judge who will tell you officially of the charges against you at your first arraignment. At the arraignment, an attorney may be appointed for you if you cannot afford one, and bail can be raised or lowered. You also can ask to be released on personal recognizance, even if bail was previously set. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, you can plead guilty or not guilty at the arraignment.

Contact the Courthouse and ask if they can help you. Often they will be able to assist you with a new court date.

Yes, you must go to court for the arraignment unless you have hired a lawyer and have been told otherwise. Some courts excuse defendants from appearing for the arraignment if they have hired a lawyer and the lawyer appears for the client. However, unless you have specifically been told by your lawyer that you do not need to appear for the arraignment, you must be present. Failure to appear in court for the arraignment can result in your arrest. Not necessarily.