Opinion ID: 831671
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: preliminary examinations

Text: Neither the United States Constitution nor the Michigan Constitution requires a preliminary examination. [11] Rather, the Legislature has mandated preliminary examinations for felony charges: Except as provided in [MCL 712A.4],[ [12] ] the magistrate before whom any person is arraigned on a charge of having committed a felony shall set a day for a preliminary examination. . . . At the preliminary examination, a magistrate shall examine the complainant and the witnesses in support of the prosecution, on oath. . . .[ [13] ] The purpose of the preliminary examination is to determine whether a felony has been committed and [whether] there is probable cause for charging the defendant therewith. . . . [14] If there is probable cause, the magistrate must bind the defendant to appear before the circuit court. . ., or other court having jurisdiction of the cause, for trial. [15] As this Court explained in People v. Yost , [p]robable cause requires a quantum of evidence `sufficient to cause a person of ordinary prudence and caution to conscientiously entertain a reasonable belief' of the accused's guilt. [16] This standard is less rigorous than the requirement to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to convict a criminal defendant, and the gap between probable cause and guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is broad. . . . [17]