Legal Definitions - public hearing

A public hearing is a legal proceeding that is open to the public and held to decide issues of fact or law. It can be held in a court, administrative agency, or legislative body. During a public hearing, witnesses may testify and evidence may be presented to help make a decision.

• A court held a public hearing to decide whether DNA evidence could be used in a murder case.
• An administrative agency held a public hearing to hear arguments about zoning variations.
• A legislative body held a public hearing to receive testimony about proposed gun control legislation.

These examples illustrate how a public hearing can be held in different settings and for different purposes. In each case, the hearing was open to the public and allowed for the presentation of evidence and arguments to help make a decision.