Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 515

  • 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.

Assignment of counsel shall not deprive the defendant of the right to engage other counsel at any stage of the proceedings in substitution of counsel assigned by the court.  The court may assign other counsel in substitution of counsel previously assigned or specially assigned to assist the defendant at the arraignment.