Keegan Law

Clerk magistrate hearings are not the same as an official trial. Instead, the hearing is less formal and is overseen by a judge. Here the rules of evidence are relaxed and a defendant can hear the official charges and hear testimony from witnesses to the alleged crime. The purpose of this hearing is to help the judge determine if there is sufficient evidence to issue a formal complaint and proceed to trial. If the judge overseeing the hearing does not feel there is sufficient evidence, the district attorney