Legal Definitions - hometowned

The term hometowned is a slang expression used in legal contexts to describe a situation where a judge shows an unfair preference or bias towards a local party or attorney over someone from outside that immediate community or jurisdiction. This perceived favoritism can create a significant disadvantage for the "outsider," often referred to as a "home field" or "home court" advantage for the local individual or entity.

• Example 1: Business Dispute

  Imagine a small, family-owned hardware store in a rural town is sued by a large, national retail chain over a trademark dispute. The case is heard in the local county court. During the proceedings, the judge consistently grants more procedural leniency to the local hardware store's attorney, allowing them extra time for filings or being more forgiving of minor technical errors, while holding the national chain's out-of-town legal team to a much stricter standard. The national chain's lawyers might feel they are being "hometowned" because the judge appears to be subtly favoring the local business.

  This example illustrates "hometowned" as the judge's actions demonstrate a clear, though perhaps unstated, preference for the local party, putting the out-of-town litigant at a disadvantage in the legal process.

• Example 2: Personal Injury Claim

  Consider a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a car accident. The plaintiff is a tourist from another state, and the defendant is a long-time resident of the town where the accident occurred and where the court is located. Throughout the trial, the judge's rulings on objections and the admissibility of evidence seem to consistently benefit the local resident. For instance, the judge might allow the local resident's attorney to introduce certain character evidence that would typically be excluded, while simultaneously striking down similar evidence presented by the out-of-state plaintiff's attorney. The plaintiff's legal team could perceive this as being "hometowned," believing the judge is biased towards the local defendant.

  This scenario demonstrates "hometowned" as the judge's decisions appear to favor the local party, creating an uneven playing field for the out-of-town litigant seeking justice.

• Example 3: Child Custody Battle

  In a child custody case, one parent has recently moved to a different state for a new job opportunity, while the other parent remains in the original county where the court has jurisdiction. The judge, who has presided over cases in that county for many years, makes comments during hearings that strongly emphasize the importance of maintaining the child's current school and social network within the local community, even when presented with compelling arguments about the child's best interests in the new location. The parent who moved might feel "hometowned" because the judge seems to prioritize local ties and the status quo within their jurisdiction over other factors relevant to the child's welfare.

  This example highlights "hometowned" through the judge's apparent bias towards maintaining the child's life within their local jurisdiction, potentially disadvantaging the parent who has relocated.