ex parte

Definition

A proceeding brought by one party without notice to or contest by the other, Latin for 'from one side.' Judges view these with suspicion since hearing only one side is how you get terrible decisions.

Example Usage

The attorney obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order at midnight, before the defendant even knew a lawsuit existed.

Origin

Latin meaning 'from/on one side'

Fun Fact

Ex parte communications between a judge and one party's lawyer are generally prohibited and can result in sanctions or case dismissal.

Source: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and judicial ethics codes

Related Terms

Intermediate

recourse

The legal options or remedies available when someone wrongs you—basically your ability to seek help or compensation through the system. Having recourse means you can actually do something about injustice besides complain on social media. Many contracts try to limit your recourse, which should tell you everything you need to know about who drafted them.

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acquiescence

Passive acceptance or silent agreement to something, often implying you're not thrilled about it but won't actively oppose it either. In legal terms, it's when your failure to object or take action implies you've abandoned your rights. Think of it as the legal equivalent of shrugging and moving on—except it can cost you your claim later.

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remit

A fancy legal word for "send" that makes lawyers feel sophisticated when they talk about transmitting money or referring cases to lower courts. In business contexts, it means to pay what you owe; in legal contexts, it means a higher court is sending your case back down for a do-over. Also refers to someone's scope of responsibility, because apparently one word needed to mean three different things to keep everyone confused.

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Deposition

A process where lawyers ask you questions for seven straight hours while a court reporter documents every "um" and "I don't recall." It is essentially a job interview where the only position available is defendant.

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Waiver

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tortfeasor

One who commits a tort, or civil wrong. It sounds like a medieval festival performer but is actually just someone who negligently or intentionally caused harm to another person or property.

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dttml

don't talk to me loser...