Dictionary of Law
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irrelevant :: legal definition


Irrelevant - adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the matter at hand or to any issue before the court. This is the most common objection raised by attorneys to questions asked or to answers given during testimony in a trial. The objection is made as soon as an alert attorney believes the opposition is going into matters which are not concerned with the facts or outside the issues of the lawsuit. It is often stated in the trio: "Irrelevant, immaterial and incompetent" to cover the bases. The judge must then rule on the relevancy of the question. If the question has been answered before the lawyer could say "objection," the judge may order that answer stricken from the record. Blotting it from a jury's memory or conscience, though, is impossible.

See also: evidence immaterial incompetent objection and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
approach the bench :: v. an attorney's movement from the counsel table t ... ake a recess to go to the restroom.
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
bias :: n. the predisposition of a judge, arbitrator, pros ... ire. See also: hometowned voir dire
bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation
case system :: n. the method of studying law generally used in Am ... Langdell and soon became standard.
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
compound question :: n. the combination of more than one question into ... rate questions. See also: objection
continuing objection :: n. an objection to certain questions or testimony ... ional distress. See also: objection
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
cross-examination :: n. the opportunity for the attorney (or an unrepre ... examination testimony trial witness
dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal
evidence :: n. every type of proof legally presented at trial ... material object objection relevant
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
exception :: n. 1) a formal objection during trial ("We take ex ... cluded. See also: exception in deed
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
in propria persona :: adj. from Latin "for one's self," acting on one's ... client and an ass for an attorney."
incompetent evidence :: n. testimony, documents or things which one side a ... ns. See also: incompetent objection
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery
issue :: 1) n. a person's children or other lineal descenda ... the body incorporation share stock
joinder of issue :: n. that point in a lawsuit when the defendant has ... matters are to be decided by trial.
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
leading :: 1) v. short for "leading the witness," in which th ... tness leading the witness objection
leading question :: n. a question asked of a witness by an attorney du ... e also: cross-examination objection
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
marked for identification :: adj. documents or objects presented during a trial ... exhibit lay a foundation objection
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
motion to strike :: n. a request for a judge's order to eliminate all ... be unrung." See also: motion strike
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
object :: 1) v. to ask the court not to allow a particular q ... he contract..." See also: objection
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
offer of proof :: n. an explanation made by an attorney to a judge d ... rial irrelevant objection testimony
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
overrule :: v. 1) to reject an attorney's objection to a quest ... : appellate court objection sustain
political question :: n. the determination by a court (particularly the ... ne-vote," as constitutional issues.
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
pro tem :: 1) adj. short for the Latin pro tempore, temporari ... as "Sam Collins is Pro Tem today."
question of fact :: n. in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution, an issue ... also: finding judge question of law
question of law :: n. an issue arising in a lawsuit or criminal prose ... udge question of fact trier of fact
retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
self-serving :: adj. referring to a question asked of a party to a ... ng declaration. See also: objection
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
sustain :: v. in trial practice, for a judge to agree that an ... /she will "overrule" the objection.
testify :: v. to give oral evidence under oath in answer to q ... deposition evidence testimony trial
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture