Hearing vs. Trial: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 12, 2023
"Hearing" is a legal proceeding for testimony and evidence, "Trial" is court examination of evidence and legal arguments. Distinct stages in legal processes.
Key Differences
"Hearing" refers to a legal session where preliminary matters are addressed, whereas a "Trial" is where evidence is fully examined and a judgment rendered. Each represents different stages in the judicial system.
A "Hearing" might be less formal, often addressing administrative or procedural matters, while a "Trial" is a formal proceeding, determining guilt or liability. Both are crucial to the legal process but serve different functions.
"Hearings" can occur for various reasons in the legal process, and "Trials" are specifically for deciding the ultimate outcome of a case. Each has its place and importance in the course of justice.
During a "Hearing," testimonies or preliminary evidence are presented, but in a "Trial," both sides present their full case for a judgment. They're both integral to the legal system, ensuring fairness and justice.
Misunderstanding the terms "Hearing" and "Trial" can lead to confusion about the legal process, as "Hearings" address specific issues, whereas "Trials" resolve the primary dispute in a case.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Preliminary or administrative court session
Formal examination of evidence in court
Formality
Can be less formal
Highly formal
Purpose
Address specific issues, not final judgment
Render a final judgment
Evidence
Limited, specific to the hearing's purpose
Comprehensive, presented by both sides
Outcome
No final verdict
Results in a final verdict or judgment
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Hearing and Trial Definitions
Hearing
An administrative procedure conducted by a judge or governmental agency.
There will be a public hearing to discuss the new zoning laws.
Trial
The act of trying, testing, or putting to the proof.
Her abilities were put to the trial in the new project.
Hearing
An opportunity to be heard or to present one's side of a case.
The defendant requested a hearing to plead his case.
Trial
A judicial examination, in accordance with law, of a cause.
The criminal trial was postponed due to new evidence.
Hearing
A proceeding where evidence is taken to determine an issue of fact and to reach a decision based on that evidence.
The judge ordered a hearing to assess the new evidence.
Trial
An affliction or trouble; a state of suffering.
The loss of his job was a major trial for the family.
Hearing
A preliminary examination in criminal procedure.
The suspect's hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday.
Trial
A proceeding in which opposing parties in a dispute present evidence and make arguments on the application of the law before a judge or jury
The case is expected to go to trial.
Hearing
The sense by which sound is perceived; the capacity to hear.
Trial
An instance of such a proceeding
The trial of Socrates.
Hearing
Range of audibility; earshot.
Trial
The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof
A trial of one's faith.
Hearing
An opportunity to be heard.
Trial
An instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments
A clinical trial of a drug.
Hearing
A legal proceeding in which evidence is taken and arguments are given as the basis for a decision to be issued, either on some preliminary matter or on the merits of the case.
Trial
An effort or attempt
Succeeded on the third trial.
Hearing
A session, as of an investigatory committee or a grand jury, at which testimony is taken from witnesses.
Trial
A state of pain or anguish that tests patience, endurance, or belief
"the fiery trial through which we pass" (Abraham Lincoln).
Hearing
Able to hear
A deaf child born to hearing parents.
Trial
A trying, troublesome, or annoying person or thing
The child was a trial to his parents.
Hearing
Able to hear, as opposed to deaf.
Trial
A preliminary competition or test to determine qualifications, as in a sport.
Hearing
(uncountable) The sense used to perceive sound.
My hearing isn't what it used to be, but I still heard that noise.
Trial
Of, relating to, or used in a trial.
Hearing
(countable) The act by which something is heard.
Trial
Attempted or advanced on a provisional or experimental basis
A married couple on a trial separation.
Hearing
(uncountable) A proceeding at which discussions are heard.
There will be a public hearing to discuss the new traffic light.
Trial
Made or done in the course of a trial or test.
Hearing
A legal procedure done before a judge, without a jury, as with an evidentiary hearing.
Trial
An opportunity to test something out; a test.
They will perform the trials for the new equipment next week.
Hearing
A scolding.
Trial
Appearance at judicial court in order to be examined.
Hearing
Present participle of hear
Trial
A difficult or annoying experience, such an experience seen as a test of faith and piety
That boy was a trial to his parents.
Hearing
The act or power of perceiving sound; perception of sound; the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived; as, my hearing is good.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear.
Trial
A tryout to pick members of a team.
Soccer trials
Hearing
Attention to what is delivered; opportunity to be heard; audience; as, I could not obtain a hearing.
Trial
(ceramics) A piece of ware used to test the heat of a kiln.
Hearing
A listening to facts and evidence, for the sake of adjudication; a session of a court for considering proofs and determining issues.
His last offenses to usShall have judicious hearing.
Another hearing before some other court.
Trial
(UK) An internal examination set by Eton College.
Hearing
Extent within which sound may be heard; sound; earshot.
They laid him by the pleasant shore,And in the hearing of the wave.
Trial
Pertaining to a trial or test.
Hearing
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
Trial
Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.
Hearing
An opportunity to state your case and be heard;
They condemned him without a hearing
He saw that he had lost his audience
Trial
Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.
Hearing
The range within which a voice can be heard;
The children were told to stay within earshot
Trial
Triple.
Hearing
The act of hearing attentively;
You can learn a lot by just listening
They make good music--you should give them a hearing
Trial
(grammar) Pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people; contrast singular, dual and plural. (See Ambai language for an example.)
No language has a trial number unless it has a dual.
Hearing
A session (of a committee or grand jury) in which witnesses are called and testimony is taken;
The investigative committee will hold hearings in Chicago
Trial
To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.
The warning system was extensively trialed before being fitted to all our vehicles.
Hearing
The ability to hear; the auditory faculty;
His hearing was impaired
Trial
To try out (a new player) in a sports team.
The team trialled a new young goalkeeper in Saturday's match, with mixed results.
Hearing
Able to perceive sound
Trial
The act of trying or testing in any manner.
Hearing
A session in which testimony and arguments are presented, especially before an official.
During the hearing, witnesses presented their accounts.
Trial
Any effort or exertion of strength for the purpose of ascertaining what can be done or effected.
[I] defy thee to the trial of mortal fight.
Trial
The state of being tried or tempted; exposure to suffering that tests strength, patience, faith, or the like; affliction or temptation that exercises and proves the graces or virtues of men.
Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings.
Trial
The act of testing by experience; proof; test.
Repeated trials of the issues and events of actions.
Trial
That which tries or afflicts; that which harasses; that which tries the character or principles; that which tempts to evil; as, his child's conduct was a sore trial.
Every station is exposed to some trials.
Trial
Examination by a test; experiment, as in chemistry, metallurgy, etc.
Trial
The formal examination of the matter in issue in a cause before a competent tribunal; the mode of determining a question of fact in a court of law; the examination, in legal form, of the facts in issue in a cause pending before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of determining such issue.
Trial
(law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal;
Most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial
Trial
The act of testing something;
In the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately
He called each flip of the coin a new trial
Trial
(sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications;
The trials for the semifinals began yesterday
Trial
(law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law;
He had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty
Trial
Trying something to find out about it;
A sample for ten days free trial
A trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain
Trial
An annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event;
His mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him
Life is full of tribulations
A visitation of the plague
Trial
The act of undergoing testing;
He survived the great test of battle
Candidates must compete in a trial of skill
Trial
A formal examination of evidence in court.
The trial concluded with a guilty verdict.
Trial
The process of testing the effectiveness of something new.
The clinical trial was a success.
FAQs
Can a "hearing" result in a final decision?
Generally, it addresses specific issues, not the final case outcome.
How long does a "trial" last?
It varies, depending on the case complexity.
Is a "hearing" public?
They can be, but some may be closed to the public for various reasons.
Are witnesses present during a "hearing"?
Sometimes, if their testimony is relevant to the matter at hand.
Are "hearing" and "trial" interchangeable?
No, they serve different purposes in the legal process.
Can a "trial" occur without a "hearing"?
Typically, hearings occur before a trial to address preliminary matters.
Who makes the final decision in a "trial"?
A judge or a jury, depending on the case.
What's the goal of a "trial"?
To determine the truth and make a judgment based on the evidence.
Is a lawyer needed for a "hearing"?
It's often advised, depending on the hearing's nature.
What's a pre-trial "hearing"?
A session before the main trial, often to decide on procedural matters.
Can "hearings" affect the outcome of a "trial"?
They can influence procedural aspects that may impact the trial.
What happens during a "trial"?
Evidence is presented, witnesses testify, and a judgment is made.
Who presides over a "trial"?
A judge, and sometimes a jury is also involved.
Can "trials" be appealed?
Yes, typically the judgment can be appealed in a higher court.
Do "hearings" involve cross-examinations?
They can, though usually not as extensively as in trials.
What types of "hearings" are there?
Various, including administrative, legislative, and judicial hearings.
Can you present evidence during a "hearing"?
Yes, but usually only specific to the hearing's purpose.
Can the public attend "trials"?
Most trials are public, but some may be private for various reasons.
Is new evidence allowed in "hearings"?
It depends on the hearing's purpose and the judge's discretion.
Are juries involved in "hearings"?
Generally, no. Juries are typically part of trials.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
