The Superior Court handles all felonies as well as drug offenses, even if they are misdemeanors. Here is how a typical case flows through the court:
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|
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Arrest |
Police officer’s Arrest warrant is approved by a magistrate; bail is set. |
8-20 Days |
Preliminary Hearing |
Probable cause hearing in Court of Common Pleas to determine if case goes forward to Superior Court. Can be waived. The vast majority of cases go forward to Superior Court. |
2 months |
Indictment |
Formal charges by the Grand Jury. These may be different than the original charges at arrest. |
2 ½ months |
Arraignment |
Entry of Not Guilty Plea; attorney enters appearance. Bail modification can be requested. |
3-4 months |
Discovery |
State must provide to defense counsel all Rule 16 discovery such as statements, evidence, expert witnesses, etc. |
3-4 months |
First Case Review |
Prosecutor and defense counsel discuss case; a plea is offered. If rejected by defendant, the case proceeds to final case review. |
3-4 months |
Motions |
Defense has 20 days to file any motions such as motions to suppress evidence. Motion hearings are then scheduled. |
4-5 months |
Final Case Review |
Last chance to take a plea; if not, the case proceeds to trial. Any possible trial/witness/evidence issues are discussed and brought to judge’s attention. |
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*These are just estimates. The average case in 2008 took 136 days from arrest to completion. Major felonies and homicides generally take longer.
Click Here to View a video about the timeline and process of a court case.
