When a magistrate investigates a criminal accusation, what is this process called?

The process by which a magistrate investigates a criminal accusation is referred to as an "examining court." This term specifically denotes a stage in the criminal procedure where a magistrate examines the evidence presented regarding the charges against an individual. The primary objective of the examining court is to determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to proceed with criminal charges against the accused. It allows the magistrate to assess the merit of the accusations before the case moves forward in the judicial system.

The other terms listed, such as "investigative hearing," "preliminary trial," and "judicial inquiry," do not accurately capture the specific function of the examining court within the framework of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. An investigative hearing may involve gathering information but lacks the formal judicial context of an examining court. A preliminary trial is not a recognized term in the context of Texas criminal procedure, and a judicial inquiry, while it implies an investigation, does not accurately describe the framework and processes governed by examining courts in criminal cases.