What Happens At The First Hearing In A Criminal Case

Criminal Law 101. Attorney Jamahl Kersey explains what happens at the first appearance in a criminal case known as the Arraignment. This will be the first of a series of videos in which we break down criminal law for you. Stay tuned!

Jamahl Kersey is a Criminal Defense and Immigration Lawyer in San Diego, California. He has defended all kinds of criminal cases from petty theft up to high-profile homicide. He started his legal career as a file clerk while in college at San Diego State University.

He attended Law School at the University of San Diego. As a student, he served as an intern for a Superior Court Judge, learning the ins and outs of the courtroom and how judges ruled on legal matters. He then became a Certified Legal Intern at the San Diego District Attorney's Office in the Family Protection Unit and the Superior Court Division. Jamahl completed his first felony jury trial while he was just a second-year law student, an impressive feat and an important milestone in his career.

Jamahl competed in National Mock Trial Competitions, helping his team take 1st place in the San Diego Defense Lawyers National Competition. He was named as one of the top eight oral advocates of his graduating class.

After taking the California Bar Examination, Jamahl did his post-bar clerkship at the San Diego District Attorney's Office where he again tried a felony case before a jury before becoming licensed as an attorney.

Jamahl started his career as an attorney at a defense firm in Orange County, defending companies from lawsuits. After his exit from the firm, he started Kersey Law in 2010.

In addition to criminal matters, Kersey Law handles immigration cases. Kersey Law assists with green cards, visas, and citizenship applications. Jamahl also defends people from deportation.

Kersey Law is on Instagram @kersey_law and Twitter @kersey_law

Kersey Law is located at
427 C Street, Suite 313
San Diego, CA 92101

Office Number is 619-399-3662 Call for a free consultation

[padrefrancisco]

Very informative!!!! Thank you so much for this video helped me out a lot brother ! 🙏🏼💪🏼 may good bless you years to come ! Keep up the good work ✅✅✅✅🤓

[sabarca]

Thank you for this enlightening video. 🕊️🖤

[kellybrown]

I'm currently studying criminal justice in college and I'm having a bit of confusion with first appearance and arraignment. Although they appear very similar I'm not exactly sure which one comes first.

[AntiMasonic]

I wonder if suppression motions can be presented to the trier of fact at the arraignment hearing. Generally, the preliminary hearing is when counsel and the State will discuss what evidence is or isn't admissible; however, I wonder if such discussion pertaining to the admissibility of evidence can be argued in another court preceding.

[airbornecow]

after the arraignment, do you present your evidence at pre-trial?

[ProjectoGang]

Hello sir, hope you’re doing well.
Please help 😢 some people came over my house and vandalized my car, I have a LTC so i chased and caught one of them and called the cops. They took a report and we all got sent home that night. 2 weeks later the kid said i pointed the gun and threaten his life and now I’m been charged with felony.
There’s no proof of me doing that and i have witness that saw the whole incident. I have my first arraignment in 2 weeks, what to expect? Should i say i have witness or wait till pre-trial?
Thank you so much

[jaiyi]

Hi my family member is being charged with DV and Assault with a deadly weapon both felony and they have no prior criminal record all this is in the state of Cali.

[JillianBuker]

hi one of my cousins got a dui charge for marijuana but she has her medical card, and she has no prior criminal record. she can’t afford a lawyer and has not heard back if she will get a public defender... what should we expect ??

[omaroba]

I filed harassment charges on my ex roommate. May 25th first trial date. So i came here to see what i need to do. Does the victim have to show up?

[myriambl]

My friend has a charge of fraud by cheques of over 5000$, first court appearance is in a month. They are a young adult student, no priors. The total amount is around 40 000$. What do you think will happen?

[oghoghookunoghae]

hi ..a friend shoplift stuff worth $180 and she is going to face the court next month..she don't have a lawyer. she cant afford one.she is a mother of 3..a student ..what will happen to her

[onyxfox.]

this helps a lot. I'm 18 and I made a really stupid choice to steal products from my work that cost over $1500 causing it to be a felony in my state. it's been 1 month since it happened and I finally have my first appearance soon, I've been having panic attacks due to the guilt I'm feeling, and watching this video helps me what to expect. yeah I know you don't need to hear my story but it feels good to say so anyways.

[sinaloa]

Hello.. I don't have any social media so I can't reach you through there but I know a relative who is being charged in Havasu for aggravated assault towards a PO, but he was unconscious, he doesn't remember anything. He has no criminal record, he doesnt drink, he's clean. But we are afraid of this situation. He has arraignment coming up.. But don't know if he should show up with a lawyer or by himself? Please help. God bless you.!

[sobad]

Hello please I was locked up for like 9 hours one 11/5 then was released on the same day….Some month back I an anonymous person used my account to do fraudulent checks but all those checks were reversed and my bank account was closed…so I thought everything was out the way all this happened months ago….now I have court 11/23 to go see the court clerk and I was charged for 155.30..this is my first time and I have had a clean record…PLEASE reply what should I do!

[keonnaarielle]

hi i have no criminal history and was recently caught shoplifting $171 worth if items, a misdameanor(located in Georgia btw)I have court january 12th, can i do a diversion program and not go to court

[arliciawalker]

Very informative, but am trying to find a lawyer here in AZ, because I tested positive for covid-19 and been treated very horrible while living in my apartment- and my landlord was very disrespectfully towards me! 😡 While living in the apartment with covid 19. They did not give me anytime to quanartine.

[zachwachs]

That's a nice f**kin shirt ! Where did you get it ?

[ninascherry]

I didn’t know I had a court date until some random attorneys sent me letters requesting to represent me.
Looked up the docket on these random attorneys letters and lo and behold there it is. How does this happen🤷🏽‍♀️ Are prosecutors in business in selling peoples information without them knowing.
Cart before the horse type sh!t.

[rubenmosqueda]

My girlfriend and I had a discussion because she went trough my phone police got the the house and took her saying it was a crime now she got the charges for DV and for tampering she got court on Monday I need help

[MsKekee]

Do you know if you’ll get the case dismissed before you get to court? Just curious no issues was actually looking for comedians damn!