arraignment

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.countableuncountable

• 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.
• […]— the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.