A Committal Hearing is an initial hearing to determine whether a case should proceed to trial or be dismissed.
View More Criminal Defense Articles
During the First Appearance hearing, the Magistrate Judge will ask if the person arrested is requesting or denying their right to a Committal Hearing; also known as a Probable Cause hearing. It is essentially a mini trial to determine whether there is enough evidence to move forward to a real trial.
1. Who Testifies: The prosecution will bring in the arresting officer or, potentially, the complaining victim to testify. The defendant has a right to testify, but generally exercise the right to not remain silent. Â Counsel for the defendant or the defendant, if not represented, will also have the chance to question witnesses. Â Generally, hearsay is allowable in a probable cause hearing.
2. What to Expect: The Judge will listen to the facts and in most cases will allow the case to go onto trial at a later day. Â However, in some rare cases, the judge may dismiss the charges or find probable cause on a lesser charge. This occurs when the State cannot meet the low burden of Probable Cause. A committal hearing generally last for about an hour.
3. A Loss Can Be a Win: Even if the Court finds that there is Probable Cause for the case to proceed, the conducting of the hearing may signal to the prosecutor that the State may not be able to prove their case at trial Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. Â An additional benefit for the defense is that the officer has put forth their version of events under oath.
If you are facing a charge that could result in a license suspension in North Georgia or Hall County, you should consider consulting a lawyer that is knowledgeable in the field. This helps to provide that best possible defenses and make the more well informed decisions regarding your rights and options when considering how best to maintain your driver’s license and avoid suspension.
At A. Bishop Law, our Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney welcomes questions on Criminal Defense laws, Traffic Laws and Georgia DUI laws. Please Call or Email us with any questions.
About the attorney:  Anne Bishop is a Georgia Lawyer with A. Bishop Law in Gainesville, Georgia and handles various DUI / DWI, Marijuana Arrests and other Georgia Criminal Defense matters.  The law office of A. Bishop Law can assist clients throughout Georgia including: Hall County (Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch), Jackson County  (Jefferson, Braselton) White County (Helen, Cleveland), Lumpkin County (Dahlonega), Dawson County (Dawsonville), Habersham County (Demorest, Cornelia), and all of Northeast Georgia.
This article and/or video should not be considered nor relied upon as legal advice since it is only intended for general overview and informational purposes. Please consult with an attorney on your specific situation in order to determine an appropriate legal course of action.