§ 551 Trial defined.

A trial is simply when a judge or court looks closely at the issues in a case and decides them. These issues can involve questions about the law or questions about the facts of what actually happened.

In practical terms, this means a trial is the formal process where both sides present their arguments and evidence. The court then reviews everything and makes decisions on the disputed points, whether those points are about what the law says or about what really occurred in the situation being argued.