After arresting the defendant, the police are required by law to bring the defendant to court within 48 hours (excluding court holidays) for the arraignment hearing. The arraignment is a very short court hearing. At the arraignment, the judge will:  If the defendant was charged with a felony, they have a right to a preliminary examination. If the defendant was charged only with a misdemeanor, they have no right to a preliminary examination but may make a motion (i.e. a request) for one. At the preliminary examination, the defendant and the criminal defense attorney can challenge the legality of the arrest. For example, they can claim the police did not have probable cause to arrest the defendant. If successful, the defendant is set free. Defendants in California have the following statutory Speedy Trial rights. These rights exists for several reasons. Most importantly, they exist to ensure defendants do not stay in jail for months and years waiting for a trial. Defendants are frequently asked if they would like to waive their speedy trial rights. To waive a right means to give it up. One reason why the defendant may want to waive their speedy trial rights is so that they can have time perform their own investigation by an independent third-party which may produce different results from the investigation done by the police. The results of the third-party investigation can then be presented at trial to the jury. Discovery is the process of exchanging documents between the District Attorney and the Defense Attorney that may contain evidence. In California, the District Attorney is required to turn over everything they plan to present at trial at least 30 days ahead of time, as well as any evidence that might help the Defendant show that they are innocent (see Brady disclosure). The Defense Attorney is not required to give incriminating evidence to the District Attorney, but must also turn over whatever they plan to present at trial at least 30 days ahead of time. If the Defendant is having a problem with the Public Defender and would like a new one, they can tell the court they are making a "Marsden motion." The court will then have a special hearing, called a Marsden hearing, where the District Attorney is not allowed to be in the room. There, the Defendant can explain how the Public Defender is not being helpful and the judge can decide if the Defendant should be given a new attorney. A defendant may choose to act as their own attorney by making a Faretta motion. This should be done as early as possible because making such a motion close to the trial date gives cause for the judge to deny the motion.