Process of a criminal case

Arraignment	Lower Court
Bail
Identity of defendant	Arraignment
Ascertain charges	Bail
Confirm attorney of record	Identity of defendant
	Ascertain charges
Pre-Trial Conference (one or more)	Confirm attorney of record
Plea negotiations
Identification of issues	Pre-Preliminary Hearing
Identification of witnesses	Plea negotiations
Identification of strengths / weaknesses	Identification of issues
	Identification of witnesses
Trial (judge or jury)	Identification of strengths / weaknesses
Pre-trial motions issues of fact are decided
	Preliminary Hearing
Sentencing	Probable cause that crime was committed and defendant was the one who committed it
Judge imposes sentencing after defendant has been convicted
	Upper Court
Appeal
The defense may request a higher court to change the lower court's decision.	Arraignment
	Bail
Expungement	Identity of defendant
Expungement is a legal term for sealing the criminal record	Ascertain charges
	Confirm attorney of record
	Pre-Trial Conference
	Plea negotiations
	Identification of issues
	Identification of witnesses
	Identification of strength/weaknesses
	Trial
	Pre-trial motions
	Issues of fact are decided
	Sentencing
	Judge imposes sentencing after defendant has been convicted
	Appeal
	The defense may request a higher court to change the lower court's decision.
	Expungement
	Expungement is a legal term for sealing the criminal record