Legal Definitions - examining trial

An examining trial is a legal proceeding where a judge determines if there is enough evidence to hold a defendant for trial. It is also known as a preliminary hearing.

For example, if someone is arrested for a crime, they may have an examining trial to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. During the examining trial, the prosecution presents evidence and witnesses to support their case, and the defense can cross-examine them. The judge then decides if there is enough evidence to hold the defendant for trial.

Another example is if someone is accused of a crime but claims they are innocent. They may request an examining trial to prove their innocence and have the charges dropped.

Overall, an examining trial is an important step in the legal process to ensure that defendants are not held for trial without sufficient evidence.