Asked 3/26/2016 – Fort Worth, TX

I’ve never revived a indictment

Answer

Not necessarily. When you are originally arrested, you are arraigned (told by a magistrate what you were arrested for) and bond was set. The case is presented to the Grand Jury and if an indictment is filed, your case is set on the court’s docket. The formal written indictment is in the materials given to the defense attorney by the State during the discovery process. The defendant has the right to have the indictment read to him and into the court’s record in open court, or the defendant can waive formal arraignment and reading of the indictment. The indictment is not served upon a criminal defendant like service of process in a civil suit.