lurper, while you're right about plea bargains, you're wrong that you don't go to court to hear deals over and over until they offer you a sweet one and/or you take it to trial.
usually you see a judge w/in 72 hours. then again in 14-28 days. then again by 60 days unless you waive your right to a speedy trial. legally, i think they have to wrap it up in 60 days but if you waive, you can fight a case for yrs.
in serious cases, people usually fight the case for upwards of 2 yrs. figure they're gonna do serious time regardless so they're not in a hurry to take any old deal. after you've sat for a while, there's less clamor for your head from the victims, you've suffered a little, everyone's got a cooler head.