Sch. Cnty. Pa. 571
The Court will notify the District Attorney of the dates and times when it will be available for the arraignment of defendants. The District Attorney shall provide the Court and the Public Defender with the defendants' names and docket numbers for the cases to be called for arraignment on a specific date. At the same time, the District Attorney shall serve a copy of the Information on the defendant in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576(B). The District Attorney shall file the Information within ten (10) days preceding the date of arraignment. The Court will issue to each defendant a Notice of the date and time of arraignment.
If a defendant who is represented by counsel desires to waive appearance at arraignment, the defendant and the defendant's attorney shall execute and file a waiver of arraignment. The waiver of arraignment can be completed at the preliminary hearing by the defendant and the defendant's attorney executing the form provided for that purpose by the Magisterial District Judge, and said form shall be returned to Court with the transcript of the case. The date of arraignment will begin the running of the time for the exercise of the defendant's pre-trial rights. Presentation by counsel of a waiver of arraignment to the Magisterial District Judge shall constitute an entry of appearance pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 120(A)(3).
If the defendant does not waive arraignment, the defendant and the defendant's attorney must attend the arraignment at the date and time set forth in the Notice from the Court.
The Public Defender shall assign an Assistant Public Defender to represent those defendants who are not represented by counsel. Such representation shall be solely for the purpose of arraignment and shall not constitute an entry of appearance.
If a defendant fails to appear for arraignment and has not waived arraignment, the Court may issue a bench warrant for the defendant.
Sch. Cnty. Pa. 571