Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pretrial-hearing

Noun

/priːˈtraɪəl ˈhɪərɪŋ/

Definition

A pretrial hearing is a legal proceeding that takes place before a trial begins, where the judge considers motions and evidence to prepare for the main trial.

Examples

The judge scheduled a pretrial hearing to discuss the evidence presented by both sides.
During the pretrial hearing, the defense argued for the dismissal of certain charges.
The pretrial hearing helped clarify the issues going into the trial.

Meaning

It is a conference or meeting held in court before the actual trial to resolve issues related to the case, such as the admissibility of evidence or the charges against the defendant.