Legal Definitions - clerk of arraigns

A clerk of arraigns was a deputy of the clerk of assize who was responsible for arraigning defendants and asking formal questions to jurors as they delivered their verdict. This position was abolished in England in 1946.

During a trial, the clerk of arraigns would read the charges against the defendant and ask them to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. They would also ask the jurors if they found the defendant guilty or not guilty.

For example, if a person was accused of stealing a car, the clerk of arraigns would ask them if they plead guilty or not guilty to the charge of theft. Then, during the trial, they would ask the jurors if they found the defendant guilty or not guilty of the crime.

These examples illustrate how the clerk of arraigns played an important role in the legal system by ensuring that defendants were properly charged and that jurors understood their responsibilities in delivering a verdict.