Sorry, I neglected this thread, and didn't answer your question.
In short, no. A trial is a determination of facts and law in an adversarial proceding before a judge. It often includes a jury, but in most cases, it does not. Some trials never even trigger a jury requirement - for example "mandamus", "declarative" and "equity" cases (like injunctions). This is one of those. It's a "declaratory" action (declaring that Trump is an unqualified candidate) seeking "equitable relief" - barring him from appearing on the ballot.
A "hearing" is a broader term, and includes many things that are not full trials, like administrative and congressional "hearings". But it also includes discrete portions of a trial proceeding, like motions. A "summary judgment" is just one kind of such motion, but can conclude a "trial". It is one kind of "merits" motion. If you think of it as a Venn diagram, trial and hearings overlap. A trial is mostly a type of hearing.
A "merits motion" truncates the trial process, but is still considered a trial, as it often includes testimony and other presentation of evidence. It did here. In addition to summary judgment, "merits motions" include "directed verdicts" and some "dismissals". This issue falls into that category.
Last edited by NW Ponderer; 12/02/23 05:44 PM.
