What task does a magistrate perform at a preliminary hearing?

At a preliminary hearing, a magistrate's primary responsibility is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the accused person is linked to that crime. This step is crucial in the legal process because it helps to prevent individuals from being held without sufficient evidence.

During the preliminary hearing, the magistrate reviews the evidence presented by the prosecution, which may include witness statements, forensic evidence, and other pertinent information. The objective is not to determine guilt or innocence but rather to assess whether the evidence is strong enough to justify moving the case forward to trial. If the magistrate finds probable cause, this allows for the case to proceed in the judicial system.

Hearing witness testimony and deciding bail amounts are important aspects of the judicial process but are not the primary function of the magistrate at this stage. Additionally, indicting the accused is a responsibility that typically falls under the purview of a grand jury, not the magistrate, making it outside the scope of what occurs during a preliminary hearing.