BBM:
YES, she has EVERY right to "skip" her appearance in court during preliminary proceedings! Her counsel will represent her, de facto speaking for her OR as I've seen happen, not speaking for her per se, just attending & then requesting a demand for a delay to "consult" with the client! A "charming" legal tactic that MOST Judges permit ONCE, then demand that the accused attend ALL proceedings! (IIRC, Baez pulled this stunt with CA). The presumed legal reason for this is to mitigate negative public impressions of the defendant, to "avoid tainting" the proverbial jury pool.
Yep, she can "hide" in her cell OR as many waiting for trial detainees do, "hide" in the library doing research on the case, so to speak! RB is in an unusual position, she is high profile & thus routinely very isolated from general population. IMVHO, she is THRIVING on the "special status"! (okay, not just IMHO but based on conversations with "those in the know" aka staff associated with the penal system in Ma.!)