Which statement best describes the involvement of a jury in a preliminary hearing?

• A. It is conducted without a jury
• B. It is conducted with a full jury
• C. It is a bench trial with a jury
• D. It is heard by a panel of judges only

Answer: (A)

Preliminary hearings are non-jury proceedings where a judge determines whether there is enough probable cause to bind the case over for trial. The judge weighs the evidence presented, hears witness testimony, and allows the defense to cross-examine, but no jury sits during this stage. The purpose is to decide if the case should proceed to trial, not to resolve guilt, and the standard of proof is probable cause, which is much lower than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard used at trial. Because of that focus and the involvement of a judge rather than jurors, the statement that there is no jury at this stage best describes how a preliminary hearing works.