In July of this year the Washington State Supreme Court created a statewide standard for when arraignments (formerly charging someone and taking their initial plea entry, which is usually ‘not guilty’) must be held if someone is in custody. The timeline for arraignments under criminal rule 4.1 is now 3 days (not 14) after criminal charges are filed if the person is: (1) in custody, or (2) released subject to court conditions. The standard went into effect on September 1, 2025, with a required 2-month implementation from that date by all state superior courts. This rule creates equity and mitigates the disproportionate impact on people of color and low-income folks who can’t afford bail. All prosecutors are ethically obligated to file charges only when they believe, in good faith, that they have enough evidence to prove a crime has been committed. Will this new timing standard for arraignments impact these filing decisions by prosecutors? We shall see; time will tell.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations (in Seattle or elsewhere), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.