During the initial appearance, the defendant appears before a judge who decides whether the evidence presented is sufficient for the case to proceed to trial.

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During the initial appearance, the judge informs the defendant of their rights and the charges against them, and bail may be set. It is not the stage where the sufficiency of evidence for trial is determined; that is typically the purpose of a preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding.

During the Initial Appearance, the Defendant Appears Before a Judge