Legal Definitions - preliminary warrant

Definition: A preliminary warrant is a type of warrant that brings a person to court for a preliminary hearing on probable cause. It is a legal document that authorizes someone to do an act, such as directing a law enforcer to make an arrest, a search, or a seizure.

Example: An arrest warrant is a type of preliminary warrant that directs a law-enforcement officer to arrest and bring a person to court. It is issued only on probable cause, which means that there must be enough evidence to suggest that the person committed a crime.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a preliminary warrant, such as an arrest warrant, is used to bring a person to court for a preliminary hearing on probable cause. The warrant is issued by a court or a judge and authorizes a law-enforcement officer to make an arrest. The officer must have enough evidence to suggest that the person committed a crime before making the arrest.