if a judge gives his opinion to the attorneys in a pre-trial hearing what is the point in having a trial?

Question

if a judge gives his opinion to the attorneys in a pre-trial hearing what is the point in having a trial?

Answer

Pre-trials typically occur without all the testimony, and if there will be a jury the judge is in a position of attempting to give only his or her best "guess" as to what the outcome may be, because the whole purpose of a pre-trial is to try to get the parties to settle in some way and avoid the cost and expense of a full trial and an all or nothing outcome. By the way your question is posed, however, it appears you are represented by counsel and this should have been explained, leaving you as the client the final decision making authority as to whether or not to proceed or whether or not to settle.