Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 513

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.

In the case of an offense punishable by imprisonment, when the defendant appears for arraignment without counsel, the court shall inform him before he pleads to the indictment of his right to have counsel appointed to defend him if he is indigent.  When a defendant states under oath that he desires counsel but is indigent, and the court finds the statement of indigency to be true, before the defendant pleads to the indictment, the court shall provide counsel for the defendant, in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 15:141 et seq.

Amended by Acts 1974, Ex.Sess. No. 22, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975; Acts 1976, No. 653, §2; Acts 2010, No. 861, §2.