Legal Definitions - extrajudicial

Extrajudicial refers to something that happens outside of the legal system. This means that it might not follow the proper legal procedures or might not have enough legal authority.

• An extrajudicial statement is something said outside of the courtroom. For example, if a witness tells a reporter what they saw, that would be an extrajudicial statement. This statement would need to qualify under the hearsay rule to be entered as evidence in court proceedings.
• An extrajudicial punishment is a punishment given by state actors without following the proper legal process. For example, if a police officer punishes someone without arresting them or taking them to court, that would be an extrajudicial punishment.

These examples illustrate how extrajudicial actions can be problematic because they do not follow the proper legal procedures. This can lead to unfairness and injustice, which is why it is important to follow the legal system.