Legal Definitions - forjudge

Forjudge (verb)

To "forjudge" means to make a judgment or decision about a legal matter, a person's guilt or innocence, or the likely outcome of a case *before* all the necessary facts have been presented, all arguments have been heard, or the proper legal process has been completed. It implies a premature or preconceived determination, often without full and fair consideration of all evidence and perspectives.

• Example 1: Judicial Conduct

  During a preliminary hearing for a complex patent infringement case, the judge made several remarks indicating a strong belief that one company's technology clearly infringed upon the other's, even before any expert testimony had been presented or the discovery phase was complete. The defense counsel might argue that the judge had forjudged the core issue of infringement, potentially compromising the fairness of the subsequent trial.

  Explanation: The judge formed and expressed a definitive opinion on a critical legal question prematurely, before the full legal process had unfolded and all relevant facts and expert opinions were formally introduced.

• Example 2: Jury Impartiality

  In a highly publicized criminal trial, a potential juror admitted during jury selection that they had closely followed news reports and had already concluded that the defendant was guilty. This individual would be excused from jury duty because they had forjudged the defendant, meaning they had formed a judgment about guilt before hearing any evidence presented in court and could not be impartial.

  Explanation: The juror made a decision about the defendant's guilt *before* the trial began and before any evidence was formally presented, demonstrating a premature and biased judgment.

• Example 3: Administrative Decisions

  A city council was reviewing an application for a new commercial development. Before the mandatory public hearing was held to gather community input and environmental impact reports were finalized, several council members publicly stated their firm intention to deny the application. Residents supporting the development could argue that the council had forjudged the application, making a decision before completing the required procedural steps and considering all relevant information.

  Explanation: The council members indicated a final decision on the application *before* completing the established process of gathering public input and reviewing all required reports, thus making a premature determination.