Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Napa County Superior Court, according to a press release from the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.
The DA’s Office filed charges after Pelosi was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence on May 28. Pelosi was reportedly in a car accident the night he was arrested.
The charges include driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a .08 percent blood alcohol level or higher.
According to California Penal Code section 977, defendants may appear through their attorney for misdemeanor DUI cases, meaning they don’t need to be present in the courtroom unless a judicial officer orders it. Pelosi has not been ordered to appear at this time.
According to the DA’s Office, at arraignment a judicial officer notifies the defendant of the crimes they have been charged with. Then a formal reading of the complaint can be waived by the defendant or their counsel. The judicial officer will also confirm that the defendant in the case is charged with the correct name.
Then the defendant or their counsel can enter in a plea. The case may then be continued to another date for either a change of plea or to set a jury trial. In misdemeanor cases where the defendant is not in law enforcement custody, they have the right to a jury trial within 45 days (but this deadline can be waived).
