Section 977 Of Chapter 1. Of The Arraignment Of The Defendant From California Penal Code >> Title 6. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.
977
. (a) (1) In all cases in which the accused is charged with a
misdemeanor only, he or she may appear by counsel only, except as
provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). If the accused agrees, the
initial court appearance, arraignment, and plea may be by video, as
provided by subdivision (c).
(2) If the accused is charged with a misdemeanor offense involving
domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or
a misdemeanor violation of Section 273.6, the accused shall be
present for arraignment and sentencing, and at any time during the
proceedings when ordered by the court for the purpose of being
informed of the conditions of a protective order issued pursuant to
Section 136.2.
(3) If the accused is charged with a misdemeanor offense involving
driving under the influence, in an appropriate case, the court may
order a defendant to be present for arraignment, at the time of plea,
or at sentencing. For purposes of this paragraph, a misdemeanor
offense involving driving under the influence shall include a
misdemeanor violation of any of the following:
(A) Subdivision (b) of Section 191.5.
(B) Section 23103 as specified in Section 23103.5 of the Vehicle
Code.
(C) Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code.
(D) Section 23153 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), in all cases in
which a felony is charged, the accused shall be personally present at
the arraignment, at the time of plea, during the preliminary
hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken
before the trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of
sentence. The accused shall be personally present at all other
proceedings unless he or she shall, with leave of court, execute in
open court, a written waiver of his or her right to be personally
present, as provided by paragraph (2). If the accused agrees, the
initial court appearance, arraignment, and plea may be by video, as
provided by subdivision (c).
(2) The accused may execute a written waiver of his or her right
to be personally present, approved by his or her counsel, and the
waiver shall be filed with the court. However, the court may
specifically direct the defendant to be personally present at any
particular proceeding or portion thereof. The waiver shall be
substantially in the following form:
"Waiver of Defendant's Personal Presence"
"The undersigned defendant, having been advised of his or her
right to be present at all stages of the proceedings, including, but
not limited to, presentation of and arguments on questions of fact
and law, and to be confronted by and cross-examine all witnesses,
hereby waives the right to be present at the hearing of any motion or
other proceeding in this cause. The undersigned defendant hereby
requests the court to proceed during every absence of the defendant
that the court may permit pursuant to this waiver, and hereby agrees
that his or her interest is represented at all times by the presence
of his or her attorney the same as if the defendant were personally
present in court, and further agrees that notice to his or her
attorney that his or her presence in court on a particular day at a
particular time is required is notice to the defendant of the
requirement of his or her appearance at that time and place."