Why is the preliminary hearing important?

The preliminary hearing is a crucial step in the criminal justice process primarily because it serves to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. During this hearing, the prosecutor presents evidence to establish that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the crime. The judge evaluates the strength of this evidence, and based on this evaluation, decides whether the case should move forward.

This hearing protects the defendant's rights by preventing cases without merit from advancing in the judicial system, thus filtering out weak cases that do not warrant a full trial. If the judge finds that there is not enough evidence, the charges could be dismissed, saving the defendant from unnecessary trial proceedings. This function highlights the preliminary hearing as an essential mechanism for ensuring that the prosecution has a viable case before consuming judicial resources with a full trial.