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In any criminal case your likely going to have a number of different kinds of court
hearings. These can include arraignment dates, presentment dates, status hearings, trial
dates, and sometimes probation review hearings.
For most of these, you will have signed a promise to appear in court. This is a legally
binding promise, and if you don't show up for your court hearing, a judge will most
likely issued whats called a bench warrant for your arrest.
This warrant can be executed at any time where the police, or a U.S. marshal can arrest you
sometimes during a routine traffic stop, or sometimes at your house or your job.
If your arrested on a bench warrant because you missed a court date its more likely that
a judge would not allow you to remain out in the community while your case is pending.
Its also more likely that the prosecutor will then add on a new charge called contempt of
court for not showing up to your court date.
A better way to deal with a bench warrant is to have the assistance of a lawyer to help
you surrender yourself to the court, and have your lawyer explain why you didn't show up for your court date.
Your lawyer can then also argue to the judge why you should remain out on your own personal
promise to re-appear in court, so that you don't get held during your court case.