The Preliminary Hearing in Felony Criminal Cases

If you have been arrested and charged with a felony by way of a criminal complaint in magistrate court, you will be afforded a preliminary hearing before a county magistrate court judge. A preliminary hearing protects citizens from hasty and malicious prosecutions. The preliminary hearing is a chance for a defendant to challenge the charges before they are presented to a grand jury. Without the advice of a criminal defense attorney, the preliminary hearing should usually not be waived.