Gag order

Definition

A court order barring parties, lawyers, or witnesses from speaking publicly about a case. It turns a juicy story into a locked diary.

Example Usage

The judge issued a gag order after the lawyers began trading insults on television.

Origin

'Gag' comes from the 16th-century verb meaning to silence someone, by stopping their mouth.

Source: Black's Law Dictionary

Related Terms

Advanced

Champertous Agreement

A contract where a third party finances litigation in exchange for a percentage of the settlement or judgment—now illegal in most jurisdictions. It's the legal equivalent of loan-sharking for lawsuits.

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harm

Physical, emotional, or reputational damage that ranges from a stubbed toe to complete social annihilation—and yes, the legal system cares about all of it when you're the one responsible. It's what lawyers obsess over in courtrooms and what parents warn kids about on playgrounds.

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proceedings

The formal events and actions that constitute a legal case, from filing the initial complaint to the final judgment. It's the legal profession's way of making "stuff that happened in court" sound more important. Also refers to published academic conference papers, because academics needed their own type of proceedings too.

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specified

When something is explicitly detailed, defined, or spelled out in excruciating detail—leaving no room for creative interpretation or convenient memory lapses. In legal and business documents, it's the difference between "soon" and "by 5 PM EST on March 15, 2024." Specificity is how lawyers prevent future arguments about what everyone "really meant."

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Intermediate

order

A formal directive issued by a court, authority, or governing body that carries legal weight and demands compliance. Think of it as the judiciary's version of 'this is not a suggestion.'

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

law

The authoritative rulebook society collectively agreed to follow, backed by courts, cops, and consequences. Breaking it generally results in less freedom and more orange jumpsuits.

⚖️ Legal

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