A defendant need not be present in the following situations:

(1) A corporation may appear by counsel for all purposes;

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Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-39-3

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(2) In prosecutions for misdemeanors, a court may permit arraignment, the preliminary hearing, plea, trial, and imposition of sentence in the defendant’s absence. If, however, the presence of the defendant is necessary for the purpose of identification, a court may, upon application by the prosecuting attorney, order his personal attendance at the trial; or

(3) The defendant’s presence is not required at any hearing to reduce a sentence pursuant to § 23A-31-1.

Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §§ 34.3501, 34.3602, 34.3701; SDCL, §§ 23-35-2, 23-42-2, 23-48-6; SL 1978, ch 178, § 487; SL 1979, ch 159, § 29.