What Happens During a Pre-Trial Hearing?

What Happens During a Pre-Trial Hearing?

If you have been charged with a criminal offense in Massachusetts, the next court date after an arraignment is called a pre-trial hearing. 

What is a Pre-Trial Hearing?

A number of things can happen at a pretrial hearing,  but it is usually the first date at which the prosecutor provides additional information to the defense about the case. This might include police body camera recordings, written or recorded witness statements, or photographs taken by the police.  Sometimes all that happens at a pretrial hearing is the scheduling of another court date. There can be multiple pre-trial hearings, depending on the specific circumstances of your case.

A pre-trial hearing allows the prosecution and defense to talk about the case, and address various legal issues to begin preparing for a potential criminal trial. The hearing is important because it allows the prosecutor and defense attorney a first opportunity to begin to talk about the specific issues in the case.

What Happens During a Pre-Trial Hearing?

Many things can happen during the pre-trial hearing. The key actions taken during this hearing include:

• Discovery: The pretrial hearing is the beginning of the discovery process. The discovery stage involves the prosecution and the defense exchanging information and evidence related to the case. By exchanging information, each side can evaluate the strength of the opposing case and arrange their arguments accordingly.
• Plea Negotiation: During the pre-trial hearing, the defense and prosecution may begin to negotiate to reach a reasonable plea bargain. As the defendant, you may have an opportunity to resolve the case in a good way at the pretrial hearing.
• Motions: Your attorney may file motions for discovery, asking the judge to order the prosecution to turn over various information.  He may file other motions as well, though the first pretrial date is usually too early for the attorney to know exactly what motions might be legally and strategically appropriate.

Contact H. Ernest Stone, Attorney PC Today For Help

If you have a criminal case and have a pre-trial hearing in Massachusetts, it's advisable to be represented by an experienced criminal defense attorney. A seasoned attorney can assess the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution case while scrutinizing the evidence against you.

An attorney has vast knowledge and experience of the legal system and can guide you throughout the pre-trial hearing process. They can help you understand your rights and explain your case's trial proceedings and potential outcomes.

Ready to get started? Contact H. Ernest Stone, Attorney PC, at (978) 969-2890 to request a free case review from our Massachusetts criminal defense attorney, Ernest Stone. We represent individuals facing criminal charges in Beverly, Massachusetts, and the surrounding areas.