Brought to trial generally refers to scheduling a legal case for a hearing, or to bring a defendant to court. It has several different or ambiguous meanings and examples used in the law. To bring to trial may refer to bringing a defendant to court when the process is ongoing.
Political, war, and other infamous crimes Most often, the terms brought to trial, bring to trial, brought to justice, and bring to justice refer to the prosecution at trial of alleged war criminals,B'TSelem Press Release about bringing to trial those Palestinians responsible for alleged war crimes as well as political prisoners,Amnesty International Press Release about Haitian political prisoners and those accused of treason or misprision of treason, sexual assault, and other infamous crimes.Court TV article mentioning "Brought to trial" in context "Draft Dodgers Brought to Trial"
Speedy trial In some cases, the context of the term actually indicates a speedy trial issue, as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.2007 California Rules of Court, Rule 8.913, found at California Rules of CourtNebraska statutes, found at Idaho statutes section 19-3501, found at Idaho state web siteNew York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) section 30.30, found at NY State web site
Related terms A number of related terms and meanings exist: "Arraign, litigate, lodge, bring a complaint, bring to view evidence, exhibit, manifest and bring together, [and] accumulate."Burton, W. C. Burton's Legal Thesaurus, p. 597. "Lawsuit, suit, suit in law, suit at law, litigation, prosecution, bring a case before the court or bar, [and] bring to justice."Chapman, R.L. & Chapman, P.M. (1989). Roget's International Thesaurus, p. 767. To "call to the bar, ... take silk, take to the law, bring to the bar, put on trial, pull up, accuse, ... file a claim, [and] inform against."Grumley, C.P. (n.d.) Roget's Thesaurus, p. 977. When the parties in a mediation or settlement conference can not come to an alternate dispute resolution, the action is brought to trial.
In the United Kingdom Schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978 states:
In relation to England and Wales, "sent for trial" means, in relation to England and Wales, sent by a magistrates' court to the Crown Court for trial pursuant to section 51 or 51A of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
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