👉 Pretrial is a legal process in which a defendant is initially examined by law enforcement or other judicial officials before any formal charges are filed against them. In many jurisdictions, this initial examination is known as a preliminary hearing. During this phase of the legal process, the accused is given an opportunity to present their case and address questions from the prosecutor. The court then determines whether there is probable cause to believe that the defendant has committed a crime. If so, the trial will begin.
