A hearing called to examine and rule on evidence intended for trial is referred to as what?

An evidentiary hearing is a specific type of proceeding in which a judge examines evidence and determines its admissibility in court before the actual trial begins. During this hearing, parties present evidence, which may include witness testimony or documents, to support their positions regarding the evidence in question. This serves to ensure that only relevant and reliable evidence reaches the trial phase, helping to streamline the process and focus on the essential issues at hand.

This contrasts with other types of hearings, such as a court session, which generally refers to any official meeting of a court where cases are reviewed, or a pre-trial conference, which is more about managing the logistics of a trial rather than analyzing specific evidence. A motion hearing typically involves arguing motions—requests made to the court for a ruling on a specific issue—rather than a thorough evaluation of evidence intended for trial. Thus, the term "evidentiary hearing" specifically highlights the purpose of evaluating and ruling on evidence.