Rule CrRLJ 4.1 - Arraignment(a)Time.(1)Defendant Detained in Jail. The defendant shall be arraigned not later than 14 days after the date the complaint or citation and notice is filed in court, if the defendant is (i) detained in a county or city jail in the county where the charges are pending, or (ii) subject to conditions of release imposed in connection with the same charges.(2)Defendant Not Detained in Jail. The defendant shall be arraigned not later than 14 days after that appearance that next follows the filing of the complaint or citation and notice, if the defendant is not detained in such jail or subject to such conditions of release. Any delay in bringing the defendant before the court shall not affect the allowable time for arraignment, regardless of the reason for the delay.(b)Objection to Arraignment Date--Loss of Right to Object. A party who objects to the date of arraignment on the ground that it is not within the time limits prescribed by this rule must state the objection to the court at the time of the arraignment. If the court rules that the objection is correct, it shall establish and announce the proper date of arraignment. That date shall constitute the arraignment date for purposes of CrRLJ 3.3. A party who fails to object as required shall lose the right to object, and the arraignment date shall be conclusively established as the date upon which the defendant was actually arraigned.(c)Counsel. If the defendant appears without counsel, the court shall inform the defendant of his or her right to have counsel before being arraigned. The court shall inquire if the defendant has counsel. If the defendant is not represented and is unable to obtain counsel due to indigence, counsel shall be assigned to the defendant by the court, unless the defendant makes a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of counsel.(d)Waiver of Counsel. If the defendant chooses to proceed without counsel, the court shall determine on the record whether the waiver is made voluntarily, competently and with knowledge of the consequences. The court shall make a thorough inquiry of the defendant's understanding before accepting the waiver. If the court finds the waiver valid, an appropriate finding shall be entered in the record. Unless the waiver is valid, the court shall not proceed with the arraignment until counsel is provided. Waiver of counsel at arraignment shall not preclude the defendant from claiming the right to counsel in subsequent proceedings in the cause, and the defendant shall be so informed.(e)Name. Defendant shall be asked his or her true name. If the defendant alleges that their true name is one other than that by which he or she is charged, it must be entered in the record, and subsequent proceedings shall be had against him or her by that name or other names relevant to the proceedings.(f)Reading. The complaint or citation and notice or the substance of the charge, shall be read to the defendant, unless the reading is waived, and a copy shall be given to the defendant.(g)Appearance by Defendant's Lawyer. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by local court rule, a lawyer may enter an appearance or a plea of not guilty on behalf of a client for any offense. Such appearance or plea may be entered only after a complaint or citation and notice has been filed. (1) The appearance or the plea of not guilty shall be made only in writing or in open court, and eliminates the need for a further arraignment.(2) An appearance that waives arraignment but fails to state a plea shall be deemed to constitute entry of a plea of not guilty.(3) An appearance under this rule constitutes a waiver of any defect in the complaint or the citation and notice except for failure to charge a crime which may be raised at any time and except for any other defect that is specifically stated in writing or on the record at the time the appearance is entered.(4) A written appearance shall commence the running of the time periods established in rule 3.3 from the date of its receipt by the court, unless the time periods have previously been commenced by an appearance in open court.(5) Telephonic requests or notices by either the defendant or the defendant's lawyer shall not constitute an arraignment or an appearance or entry of a plea, and shall not commence the running of the time periods under rule 3.3.(6) The appearance by a lawyer authorized by this rule shall be construed as an "arraignment" under the other provisions of these rules.Wash. R. Ct. Lim. Juri. CrRLJ 4.1
Adopted effective 9/1/1987; Amended effective 9/1/1995; 9/1/2003; 9/1/2010; amended effective 6/7/2024.