New Hampshire adopted felonies first to try speed up the court process and streamline cases. The effect is that people who are charged with a felony must appear in the superior court in a very short time period often within a week. The first court appearance is called an arraignment where the charges are explained, a plea of not guilty is entered and bail is set. It is vital to talk with a defense lawyer as soon as possible to better understand the charges, defenses and develop a plan.