The judge, or the judge’s designee, shall set the time of arraignment unless arraignment is waived either by the defendant or by operation of law. Notice of the date, time, and place of arraignment shall be delivered to the clerk of the court and sent to attorneys of record, defendants, and bondsmen.
Rule 30.1.Calendar
Rule 30. ARRAIGNMENT · Last amended 1997 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 30.1 puts the judge or a designee in charge of setting the arraignment date, unless arraignment has been waived, and requires notice of the date, time, and place to reach the clerk, attorneys of record, defendants, and bondsmen.
Full Text of Rule 30.1
Plain-English Summary
Rule 30.1 answers a basic scheduling question: who sets the arraignment date, and who finds out about it. The judge, or the judge’s designee, sets the time, unless the defendant has waived arraignment or the law waives it automatically.
Once a date is set, notice has to go out on multiple fronts. The clerk of court gets the date, time, and place, and so do attorneys of record, defendants, and bondsmen. Reaching bondsmen alongside attorneys and defendants reflects a practical reality of criminal practice — someone who posted bond has a stake in knowing when the defendant is due back in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sets the time for arraignment?
The judge, or the judge’s designee, sets the time of arraignment, unless arraignment is waived by the defendant or by operation of law.
Can arraignment be skipped entirely?
Yes, if arraignment is waived either by the defendant or by operation of law.
Who receives notice of the arraignment date?
Notice of the date, time, and place is delivered to the clerk of the court and sent to attorneys of record, defendants, and bondsmen.
Why does notice go to bondsmen as well as attorneys and defendants?
The rule lists bondsmen among the required recipients of arraignment notice, alongside the clerk, attorneys of record, and defendants.
What form does the notice of arraignment take?
The rule requires that notice of the date, time, and place be delivered and sent, without specifying a single required format beyond that content.
Amendment History
Amended effective October 9, 1997.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Uniform Superior Court Rules, published by the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: Georgia arraignment scheduling ruleUSCR Rule 30.1arraignment calendar noticewho sets arraignment date Georgiaarraignment waiver superior court