preliminary hearing
Initial court appearance
A preliminary hearing is a court proceeding held before a criminal trial to determine whether there is enough evidence to justify moving forward with prosecution.
The judge evaluates testimony and evidence presented by the prosecution to decide if probable cause exists that the defendant committed the crime.
Unlike a trial, a preliminary hearing does not determine guilt or innocence—it simply acts as a checkpoint in the legal process.
The charges were dropped after the preliminary hearing revealed insufficient evidence.
- judgeOne who decides
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- court dateScheduled judicial appearance
- defendantParty facing charges
- criminal chargesFormal accusations of lawbreaking
magistrate · probable cause · witness · indictment · dismissal · prosecutor · affidavit · due process · criminal procedure · plea bargaining · testimony · defense attorney · legal counsel · right to counsel · Miranda rights · prima facie · discovery · bind over
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- criminal trialarraignment, defense attorney, courtroom, criminal trial, prosecutor
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, plaintiff, complaint, lawsuits
- court dutiesjury duty, testimony, oath taking, verdict, deliberation
- court proceedingstrial, arraignment, verdict, testimony, plea
preliminary hearingtrial
Judicial examination of claims
jury trial · criminal trial · bench trial · sentencing hearing · verdict
preliminary hearingfinal judgment
Conclusive court resolution
conviction · verdict · acquittal · sentencing · final order