In felony cases, a defendant is prohibited from making a plea at the initial appearance because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

At the initial appearance in felony cases, a defendant is prohibited from making a plea because a magistrate's court, which typically conducts these initial appearances, does not have the jurisdiction to decide on felonies. This stage is primarily for informing the defendant of their rights and the charges against them, and for matters related to bail.

In Felony Cases, a Defendant Is Prohibited from Making a Plea