preliminary hearing

A preliminary hearing is a legal proceeding in criminal cases where a judge reviews whether there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. It’s not about deciding guilt or innocence but determining if there is sufficient cause to believe the accused committed the crime. During the hearing, both the prosecution and defense present evidence, and the judge decides whether the case should move forward in the criminal justice process. If the judge finds enough evidence, the case continues; if not, it may be dismissed. This process helps ensure cases are based on credible evidence before spending resources on a full trial.