If an accused fails to appear in court, what may the court do?

• A. The court may issue a warrant for arrest or proceed with default judgments, depending on the stage and nature of the case.
• B. The court must automatically dismiss the case.
• C. The witness is called to testify in the accused's absence.
• D. The judge issues a fine to the accused.

Answer: (A)

When the accused fails to appear, the system has to enforce attendance while keeping the process moving. The court can issue a warrant for arrest to compel the defendant to come to court, and, depending on how far the case has advanced and the specific rules that apply, it may proceed with the trial or render judgment in the defendant’s absence. This flexibility helps balance the need to protect the prosecution and the integrity of the proceedings with the defendant’s rights. Dismissing the case automatically isn’t appropriate, and calling a witness or imposing a simple fine don’t address the core remedy of ensuring the accused faces the proceedings.