ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA

Arraignments shall be conducted before a Magistrate Judge or Judge. The United States Attorney shall furnish the Courtroom Deputy of the Judge with a copy of the indictment for each defendant and the name of the defendant’s attorney if known. The Courtroom Deputy shall thereupon send a copy of the indictment or information to the defendant and said attorney together with notice of the time and place of the arraignment, unless the United States Attorney has reason to believe that defendant will become a fugitive, in which event a copy shall be served upon the defendant within a reasonable time after his or her arrest and prior to his or her arraignment before a Magistrate Judge or a Judge. When, at the arraignment before a Magistrate Judge, a defendant expresses a desire to plead guilty, the Magistrate Judge shall refer this matter immediately to the Judge, or in his or her absence to the Emergency Judge for the purpose of accepting the plea only.

At any preliminary hearing before a Magistrate Judge, the defendant shall be given a copy of the complaint. Effective January 1, 1998. - 9 -