At the arraignment, the defendant will receive a number of court dates. The first of these dates is for a dispositional conference. This is a non-testimonial court appearance and only requires the presence of the prosecutor, defendant, and defense attorney (if applicable).
What Happens During a Dispositional Conference
During this "conference," the parties will meet with a judge and discuss the merits of the evidence, the defense and any pretrial motions.
At the conclusion of the conference, the case may be resolved by plea negotiation or the case may proceed to a motion hearing docket, a miscellaneous docket, or a jury trial docket.