What is the process called when a person must appear before court after an indictment?

The process in which a person must appear before court after an indictment is called arraignment. During an arraignment, the defendant is formally charged with a crime and asked to enter a plea, such as guilty, not guilty, or no contest. This step is crucial in the judicial process as it informs the defendant of their rights and the charges against them, allowing them to respond appropriately.

In this context, other options like the first appearance, preliminary hearing, and magistrate's hearing serve different purposes in the legal process. The first appearance typically refers to the initial court appearance where the defendant is informed of the charges and their rights, but it doesn't involve a formal plea. A preliminary hearing is a proceeding to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, and the magistrate's hearing often involves decisions on bail or other preliminary matters. Each of these processes plays an important role in the overall legal proceedings but does not directly correspond to the formal entry of a plea after an indictment as the arraignment does.