Arraignment (noun)

The act or process of formally reading the charges to a criminal defendant in court and requiring the defendant to enter a plea.

Origin:

Middle english, from anglo-french, from arreindre to arrest, from latin ad- + recludere to shut up, from re- + claudere to shut.

Examples:

1. The defendant was informed of his rights during the arraignment.
2. The arraignment is the first step in a criminal trial.
3. The judge set bail at the arraignment.
4. The defendant pleaded not guilty during the arraignment.
5. The arraignment was short and the judge set a date for the trial.