High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Within some criminal
justice systems, a preliminary hearing (evidentiary hearing) is
a proceeding, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the
prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to
require a trial. In the United States, the judge must find there
is probable cause that a crime was committed. At such a hearing,
the defendant may be assisted by counsel; in many jurisdictions,
there is a right to counsel at the preliminary hearing. Contrast
this with some jurisdictions in the United States, where a
person may be charged, instead, by seeking a "true bill of
indictment" before a grand jury; where counsel is not always
permitted.