What is first appearance and when does it happen?

First appearance happens quickly — Florida's rules require it within 24 hours of arrest — and it's short. Many are over in a few minutes.

Three things happen. The judge reviews whether there was probable cause for the arrest. The person is advised of the charges and of their rights. And the judge addresses bond and any conditions of release.

That third item is why the hearing matters far more than its length suggests. The bond number and the conditions imposed there shape the weeks that follow.

Family can generally attend, and many circuits stream or hold these hearings by video. Whether attending helps depends on the circuit and the judge, but presence sometimes matters at the margins — a judge deciding on release conditions is weighing community ties, and visible family support is part of that picture.

The person will typically have a public defender present for this hearing specifically, whether or not they've applied for one.