English edit

Etymology edit

arraign +‎ -ment

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Noun edit

arraignment (countable and uncountable, plural arraignments)

  1. (law) The formal charging of a defendant with an offense; in many jurisdictions it includes their response in the form of a plea, typically as guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
    • 2020 March 11, Jan Ransom, “Harvey Weinstein’s Stunning Downfall: 23 Years in Prison”, in New York Times[1]:
      This process, Mr. Rothfeld said, could be interrupted at any moment if prosecutors in Los Angeles successfully extradite him for an arraignment on the sexual assault charges there.
    • 2023 March 30, William K. Rashbaum, “This is what will happen when Trump is arrested in the coming days.”, in The New York Times[2], →ISSN:
      [] — the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.

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