Court committal hearings – which determine whether a criminal case should go to trial – could be abolished in Victoria as part of a dramatic revamp of the legal system.

In a move that could shake-up the way serious offences are dealt with, the Andrews government has commissioned a review of the committals system to make the courts more efficient and reduce the trauma victims face.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Attorney-General Jill Hennessy Credit:AAP

Committal hearings allow magistrates to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict in a higher court.

In essence, they give the accused a chance to test the case against them, and ensure prosecutors only push for charges that have a reasonable prospect of success, rather than a broad suite. In legal circles, this is often known as the “hamburger with the lot”.