Definitions of pretrial hearing
(CIVIL LAW) a court hearing before a civil trial. Such hearings give the parties the opportunity to discuss the case in a more informal setting with a judge and attempt to reduce the matters of evidence, legal issues, and facts that will be tried during the trial.
The court may conduct pretrial hearings to resolve issues relating to the admissibility of statements by defendant, pretrial identifications of defendant, and sound recordings at any time prior to trial.
(CRIMINAL LAW) a court hearing before a criminal trial. Such hearings allow each side to put forward motions (=requests) to the court, complete any plea bargaining, or to set a trial date and readiness hearing.
The 22-year-old pleaded not guilty over the incident during a pretrial hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court.