If the defendant mails the plea and waiver after appearance date but at least five business days before the scheduled trial date, the court may require a personal appearance.

• A. True
• B. Not applicable
• C. It depends on the judge
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Submitting a plea and waiver by mail can take the place of appearing in person for arraignment or setting up the trial, as long as the waiver is properly executed and timely filed before the trial date. When that happens, the court typically proceeds based on the mailed plea and waiver and does not require the defendant to appear in person just because the appearance date has passed. So saying that the court may require a personal appearance in this situation isn’t correct. The court would only require in-person appearance if the mailed plea and waiver are invalid, untimely, or otherwise insufficient, or if there are issues that the court needs to address directly. The other options don’t fit because the standard rule supports proceeding without a personal appearance when a valid mailed plea and waiver has been filed ahead of the trial.