Questions tagged [rules-of-court]
Rules of practice and procedure in a court of law. Related tags: process, civil-procedure
93
questions
4
votes
3answers
180 views
What is the difference between “I swear” and “I affirm”
In court oaths, there is the option to admit one of the following:
I [...] swear [...] so help me God.
I [...] affirm [...].
What is the significant difference? I am looking for code, statute, law, ...
4
votes
5answers
273 views
Are editable word documents ('.docx' files) accepted in court as evidence?
I keep most of my business documents in Microsoft Words (.docx) file format. Problem is these documents can be edited and tampered with. For my signatures, I just copy and paste a signature image onto ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
What can I do if my attorney misses a court deadline?
In California civil court cases:
Will court extend filing deadlines for me if I can prove that my attorney was unresponsive?
Are attorneys liable for the consequences of missing court deadlines?
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Are there precedents where attorneys have been punished for plagiarism in their court filings?
Let's assume that plaintiff and his attorney wrote a complaint and sued you in a state court. You later discover that plaintiff has brutally copy pasted multiple paragraphs from a different, unrelated ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
What responses can be filed against plaintiff's complaint that was filed with intent to harass?
Imagine that a plaintiff and his attorney both have acted in bad faith and sued you, and that:
"facts" alleged by the plaintiff in the complaint are wrong and the plaintiff's attorney has not done ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
801.d.2.D - Party Opponent
For mock trial, the case is STATE OF WASHINGTON, Plaintiff, vs. SYDNEY CARDEN, Defendant.
Two of the witnesses are Sam Drucker (plaintiff witness), a manager for a local thrift store, and Kahuna ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Ex-parte communication between a Judge and Prosecutor - ethical breach or canon violation?
I was the defendant in a case and had the strange feeling that the Judge and Prosecutor were very friendly.
After the hearing and verdict (not in my favor) I found online, that while the case was ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Would a Notice of Entry of Appearance be required in federal bankruptcy case going pro se?
Let's say someone were to initiate a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in federal court of course. And they had an attorney prepare the filing and take the case through confirmation.
But a while later, the ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Obtaining an address for servicing notices from my ex landlord
I will be suing my landlord about a week or 2 after I leave, and I am wondering if, from a legal perspective, I can still use the same address for servicing of documents & notices, as on our ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Protocol if juror cannot hear or see something clearly
If a sitting juror, or a prospective juror during voir dire, cannot see or hear something clearly, what is the protocol for the juror to alert the court of this? Say something immediately? Raise your ...
0
votes
2answers
52 views
Can case law never appealed in a higher court be appealed and overturned?
I will phrase this question in New Zealand legal terms but I am actually interested in any common law jurisdiction or any jurisdiction with adversarial system.
Say there is some case law made in the ...
0
votes
2answers
56 views
What kind of documents on a civil case file can be not accessible by the plaintiff?
Say Bob filed a civil lawsuit against Rob. Normally documents that get filed on the case will be served on Bob (and all other parties involved) — submissions, affidavits, judges' minutes etc.
I am ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
When going to court should a plaintiff preemptively refute the other sides defense?
In small claims court, if the plaintiff knows what the defendant will likely say, should the plaintiff address these in the initial application? This makes sense to me because usually someone going to ...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
When going to court is it typical to have multiple related claims?
I know in large legal cases you hear about in the news, the plaintiff usually has multiple torts they accuse the defendant of. For example company A is suing company B for negligence, breach of ...
3
votes
1answer
311 views
When can you no longer submit evidence in a civil case?
I was wondering if there was a point in a civil case where parties are no longer allowed to submit evidence, to my understanding all evidence is submitted at a pretrial, and after that it is ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
I read this story about a physical assault. How much of it actually makes sense? [duplicate]
I read this story about an assault, and I'm wondering if it adds up or not.
So these two guys get into an argument, and it gets really out of hand, causing one of the guys to tackle the other guy and ...
3
votes
3answers
199 views
I just read this story about a lawsuit. Does it make any sense? [closed]
I read a fictional story about this assault/lawsuit, and I'm really stuck on some of the details. I'm trying to figure out if it was actually written correctly or not...
So this guy assaulted another ...
2
votes
1answer
120 views
Court referring to resources barely available to the general public
As a pro se litigant I have come across a judge referring in their minutes to a resource which is barely available to the general public. It is a loose leaf written by lawyers for lawyers on ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Amount of distance from the Jury?
Having observed many jury trials, it seems that lawyers are only allowed to stand behind the podium or walk around the direct area around the podium (within 2 or 3 feet) while addressing the court.
...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
Does plaintiff need to file affidavit of his own statement of fact?
A pro-se plaintiff in a civil proceeding files a Statement of Claim in which he explains his Causes of Action, refers to attached documents ("Annexures") and contends his points about what the ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Can court change case judges as it pleases?
Say a lawsuit has been filed with a court. A judge looks at the case and makes some initial directions (e.g. requests formal written statements, considers case management memoranda filed by the ...
1
vote
3answers
69 views
Opinion Estoppel
As I understand it, estoppel is the notion that once a position is taken (i.e. all swans are white) that another contrary position may not be taken (some swans are black).
That being said, counsel ...
-1
votes
1answer
62 views
Suing a Cellular Company that Charged Me for Years Without My Knowledge
I am planning to sue a cellular company for charging me (for two phone numbers) for 10 years after a cutoff request. I contacted the company, and they admitted to wrongly charging me but only for one ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Why would a party to civil proceeding suggest amicus curiae (counsel assisting the court)?
A defendant in a civil proceeding chooses to play no active part and says they will abide the court's decision.
However, they add that because "the Court is left with no active contradictor in the ...
0
votes
2answers
176 views
Is there any case law on counsel perpetrating ruses on witnesses?
This question relates to an earlier question I asked here, but I am looking for a broader answer citing case law. I would like to know if there is any case law relating to the legal limitations on ...
7
votes
5answers
421 views
Can a lawyer subject the court to a (temporarily) ruse for a legitimate purpose?
This question is about the legality of a possible defence tactic that might be used in a criminal trial. It is a variation on things you see in lawyer movies fairly commonly. Suppose that a criminal ...
0
votes
2answers
421 views
Can non-witnesses legally refuse to answer questions from judge?
It appears that a judge in their courtroom can ask anyone any questions. A quick search shows that it is not uncommon for persons refusing to answer judges' questions to be prosecuted for contempt of ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
Differences between Dismissal with Prejudice, Summary Judgment, Directed Verdict, JMOL, and JNOV?
What (if any) are the particular differences in U.S. courts between dismissal with prejudice, summary judgment, directed verdict, judgment as a matter of law (JMOL), and judgment notwithstanding the ...
1
vote
1answer
555 views
What does a trial for Terrorism look like in France?
I'm a writer, and need help for a book that takes place in Paris.
According to the Wikipedia page, the Assize for Terrorism is 'special' and has 9 Judges with a president. There wasn't any further ...
0
votes
2answers
148 views
My attorney dropped me without reason
My attorney dropped me without notification via letter and then filed a withdraw for a worker's comp case. He claims it is irreconcilable differences but I barely talked to him about my case. Actually ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Can I ask for disclosure of CCTV to be used in Appeal against Possession order in UK
A district Judge made an unfair and biased possession order to make me homeless despite I provided large volume of evidence such as digitally dated photos, Facebook photos, over than 8 neighbours ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Getting courts to reconsider judgment when new evidence crops up
Say a District Court in New Zealand considers a proposed private prosecution and makes a ruling R that it will not go ahead because of insufficient evidence under s26(3)(a) of the Criminal Procedure ...
1
vote
0answers
58 views
Is making my co-tenants sign a contract to pay their share of the bills helpful in court?
I share a house with three other people, and as I was the first to move in, I had to sign up for some of the bills with my name. However, some of my co-tenants are rather slow and unwilling to pay ...
2
votes
3answers
189 views
Will I have to appear in court or another proceeding about a suicide I discovered?
I was riding my bike to work, and found someone lying in the grass on public land (the road verge) not private property. He appears to have died of his own intentional actions.
The police were called,...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
How can plaintiff/prosecutor hold the court to account if it intentionally stalls proceeding?
When the ball in court proceedings is on the judge's side, i.e. the judge is taking their time to work out directions/decisions, and it takes too long — what legal recourse does the plaintiff or ...
0
votes
0answers
105 views
What options does a judge have to control an unruly defendant?
If a defendant is unable or unwilling to control himself (in terms of interrupting procedure), what options does a judge have besides physically gagging or taping the mouth shut?
Clarification via ...
1
vote
4answers
356 views
Is answering a question you are not sure about under oath perjury?
Suppose I struggle to see at night, but was witness to a crime that took place and have been asked to give testimony. At the stand, I am asked whether I saw the defendant committing the crime, and ...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
Is the law in Indonesia adversarial?
In US, the trial is adversarial.
The court works with 3 parties
One argue one way (The defendant is very evil and deserve punishment). Another argue another way (the defendant is a saint).
Then a ...
5
votes
1answer
154 views
Is trial courtroom layout prescribed by rule or law?
In the United States, in general criminal trial courtrooms, I have always seen the defense positioned furthest from the jury and the witness stand. However, I gather that not only is there no law or ...
18
votes
2answers
17k views
Why do judges use a hammer in court?
In many movies featuring a court scene, the judge is seen pounding a wood hammer on the desk to either silence the court room, or to announce a decision.
Why do judges use a hammer? Is it only a ...
1
vote
3answers
543 views
loaded questions in pseudo-legal scenario
How is a loaded question dealt with in a legal, or legalistic, context?
Is there particular language which is typically employed, or is there a strategy which is particularly effective?
The specific ...
6
votes
1answer
147 views
What is involved (other than financial + evidence aspects) in bringing a private prosecution in the UK?
Suppose a person commits a financial crime in the UK (say theft, insider dealing, false accounting, fraud, or something similar falling squarely within criminal law). For whatever reason there is no ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
What makes a document translation “court certified” in Massachusetts?
I have an agreement document which I need to translate into English, to be accepted as an exhibit in Massachusetts court. Looking around for certified translation services, there seem to be many that ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Courtroom rules of order
Robert's Rules of Order famously provides widely accepted guidelines for conducting formal meetings.
Is there an analog for conduct that applies generally or specifically to open sessions of judicial ...
0
votes
1answer
932 views
Chain of Custody
So chain of custody is obviously important, but why?
I have seen many articles referring to drugs and one where the murder weapon was handled without gloves. But what about other types of evidence ...
1
vote
1answer
388 views
Warrants and statements under oath
If an arrest warrant is issued does that mean a statement was made under oath? If so if a part of the statement for the arrest warrant is proven false what are the implications? In the case of a ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Is it possible to get an out of state “failure to appear” for a felony case dismissed,if you are homeless?
I just need a little more time to make enough money to travel, I can't get a job with a pending felony and don't have family to just give me money, I literally am scrapping to make it out there even ...
1
vote
3answers
193 views
Why are there three truth parts to an oath?
In mathematical logic we have iff: if and only if. As an example of this for my classes I realised that in sworn oaths there are three statements for telling:
1: the truth,
2: the whole truth,...
21
votes
2answers
9k views
Why was Joe Arpaio not given a jury trial?
Joe Arpaio, the former Sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ, was found guilty of criminal contempt of court by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on July 31, 2017. Apparently Arpaio requested a trial by jury, ...
0
votes
1answer
534 views
How to dismiss (an improperly filed) motion? Objection or a Motion Prior?
I have a hearing coming up where there is a "motion to dismiss" filed by the other party. It is quite apparent the motion has been filed incorrectly (missing very specific paperwork) according to the ...
