Legal Definitions - embrace

In a legal context, the term embrace refers to the act of improperly attempting to influence a judge or a juror, often through unethical or unlawful means, with the intention of affecting the outcome of a legal case. This includes actions that could corrupt or appear to corrupt the impartiality of the justice system, such as offering bribes, making threats, or engaging in other forms of undue influence outside of the proper legal process.

• Example 1: During a high-profile civil lawsuit concerning a corporate merger, a representative for one of the companies secretly contacts a juror and offers them a substantial sum of money in exchange for voting in their favor.
  This is an act of embracing because the representative is attempting to corruptly influence a juror's decision through a bribe, directly undermining the fairness of the trial.
• Example 2: A defendant in a criminal trial discovers the home address of one of the jurors. The defendant then sends an anonymous letter to the juror's home, detailing personal information about the juror's family and subtly suggesting that "bad things could happen" if the verdict isn't favorable.
  This constitutes embracing because it involves an attempt to influence a juror through intimidation and veiled threats, which is a corrupt and improper method designed to sway their judgment.
• Example 3: A local politician is facing charges, and their campaign manager, without the politician's knowledge, sends an expensive gift basket to the judge presiding over the case, along with a personal note praising the judge's reputation and subtly mentioning the importance of a "fair and understanding" outcome for their client.
  This is an instance of embracing because the campaign manager is attempting to improperly influence the judge by offering a gift and making an unsolicited, personal appeal outside of proper legal channels, which could create the appearance of or actual corrupting influence on the judge's impartiality.