English

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Etymology

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From mini- +‎ trial.

Noun

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minitrial (plural minitrials)

  1. A short or minor legal trial.
    • 2007 January 26, William K. Rashbaum, “Judge Urges U.S. to Drop Plan to Seek Death Penalty in Case”, in New York Times[1]:
      Under the federal death penalty law, if a jury finds a defendant guilty, a second minitrial is held to determine whether that defendant will face execution or life in prison without parole.