Colorado legal term
Preliminary hearing in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Preliminary hearing” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Preliminary hearing” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Preliminary hearing" means a hearing on a complaint filed in the county court or an information filed in the district court, to determine if there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the person charged committed it. (C.R.S. § 16-1-104)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.