In the MAP GO FAP mnemonic, which item corresponds to the initial step involving counsel?

• A. Preliminary Hearings to Determine Probable Cause
• B. Arraignment
• C. Guilty Pleas
• D. Overnight Recess at Trial

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is identifying the first court appearance where counsel is involved. Arraignment is that initial step, because it is the defendant’s first formal appearance after charges are filed, with the charges read, rights explained, and counsel typically present to represent the defendant and handle entering a plea or requesting further proceedings. Preliminary hearings aim to determine probable cause and occur after arrest, focusing on evidence rather than on counsel’s involvement as the defining feature of the step. Guilty pleas come later, after arraignment and possible plea negotiations, while an overnight recess at trial is simply a procedural interruption, not the stage where counsel first participates in the process.