Arraignment, Plea, & Trial

Arraignment

An arraignment is your first appearance in Municipal Court. When you are given a ticket, you are also given a court date and a time to appear in Municipal Court. When you appear at your arraignment, your name will be called. When your name is called, approach the bench. The Judge will read the charge that has been filed against you. If you do not understand the charge, ask the Judge to explain it. When the Judge asks you how you plead, you must say either "Guilty" or "Not Guilty". "No Contest" please are not allowed in Missouri Courts. 

Call Court for Court Dates (636) 949-3378.

Your Plea

A Plea of Guilty

If you plead guilty, you are admitting to the Judge that you have committed acts which violate a valid City law. The Judge will then decide what penalty will be assessed. At this time, you will have an opportunity to tell the Judge any special circumstances that you believe lessen the seriousness of the violation. You can not plead guilty and then in your explanation to the Judge say that you did not violate the law.

A Plea of Not Guilty

A plea of not guilty means you believe you have not violated the law. When you plead not guilty, the Judge will allow you to speak to the Prosecuting Attorney or set a date for trial. You do not need to be represented by an attorney if you want to plead not guilty. You may represent yourself at the trial. If you plead not guilty and later decide to change your plea to guilty, you must reappear in court.

The Trial

At the trial, the City Prosecutor will first present evidence against you. Then you will have a chance to tell your side of the story. At the trial, the Prosecutor will call witnesses to testify about the facts alleged in the charge. When each witness has finished answering the Prosecutor's questions, you or your attorney will have the right to question the witness. This is called cross-examination. Cross-examination is not a time when you can testify or argue with the witness.

After all witnesses for the City have testified, you will have an opportunity to present your case. You may testify and you may call witnesses to testify. However, you are not required to testify. If you do testify, you may also be questioned by the Prosecutor. After you have presented your case, the Prosecutor has the right to present "rebuttal" evidence. Rebuttal evidence is evidence that explains or denies your evidence. After all witnesses have testified, each side may give a closing argument. The Judge must then decide if you are guilty or not guilty. If you are found guilty, the Judge will assess a punishment, considering the seriousness of the offense and any explanation offered by you during your trial. If the Judge finds you not guilty, you are free to go.