Where are preliminary hearings held in felony cases?

• A. General District Court
• B. Circuit Court
• C. Supreme Court
• D. Administrative Court

Answer: (A)

In Virginia, the preliminary hearing for a felony case is a probable-cause review that takes place in General District Court. This hearing isn’t a trial; it’s a screening step where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to bind the case over to the Circuit Court for trial. If the magistrate finds probable cause, the case moves on to Circuit Court for the felony trial; if not, charges can be dismissed or reduced. The Circuit Court handles the actual trial, the Supreme Court deals with appeals, and there isn’t an Administrative Court involved in this process.