motion

Definition

A formal request or proposal made in court by one party, asking the judge to do something or make a ruling. Lawyers submit motions the way toddlers submit requests for candy—frequently and with great hope.

Example Usage

The attorney filed a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the case without trial.

Source: Merriam-Webster via Free Dictionary API

Related Terms

Beginner

Continuance

A postponement or adjournment of legal proceedings to a later date, often requested by attorneys who suddenly discover they're unprepared or their client is missing.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

enforceable

A contract, law, or agreement that courts will actually back up with legal muscle if someone violates it. It's the difference between a pinky promise and a binding obligation that marshals can show up to enforce. Basically, it means the agreement has teeth and isn't just wishful thinking on fancy letterhead.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Sanctions

Penalties imposed by courts for violating rules or court orders, ranging from fines to case dismissals. How judges punish bad behavior without having to go to the Supreme Court.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Interrogatory

Written questions that must be answered under oath during discovery, theoretically to narrow issues but functionally to bury opponents in paperwork.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

manslaughter

The unlawful killing of another human being without premeditation or malice aforethought—basically, you killed someone but didn't plan it or really mean it. The law's way of distinguishing between 'oops' and 'I meant to do that.'

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

appeal

The legal equivalent of asking to speak to the manager, except the manager is a higher court and they actually have to listen to your complaint. It's when you tell a superior court that the lower court got it wrong, please fix it, accompanied by a brief that's neither brief nor particularly fun to read. The last hope of the legally aggrieved and the reason law schools have entire courses on appellate procedure.

⚖️ Legal

Translate This Term

See “motion” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

Mp5

A statistic in World of Warcraft (WoW) used to compute the amount of mana regenerated per every five seconds; allows man...