What is the purpose of committal hearings in criminal proceedings?

• A. To determine guilt beyond reasonable doubt
• B. To see if there is enough evidence for trial to go to county or supreme court
• C. To set bail terms
• D. To determine sentence length

Answer: (B)

Committal hearings focus on whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial in the higher court. The aim is to filter out cases that don’t have a sufficient prima facie case to justify a full trial. It’s not about deciding guilt or innocence—that happens at the trial. Bail can be dealt with during the committal process, but the main purpose is the evidence threshold for proceeding to trial. If the evidence is considered sufficient, the matter is committed to trial in the county or supreme court; if not, the charges can be dismissed or adjusted. The standard is whether a reasonable jury could convict on the evidence presented, not whether guilt has already been established.