Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: act-of-state doctrine
Definition: Inquisition refers to a type of investigation that can be done by a jury or a court. It can also mean a very tough and unfair questioning or examination of someone. It is similar to an inquest, but often involves treating the person being questioned poorly and without respect for their rights.
An inquisition is a type of judicial inquiry that can be derogatory and grueling. It can also refer to the record of a jury's findings in a coroner's investigation into a person's death.
The first example illustrates the derogatory and grueling nature of an inquisition, as people were tortured and killed for their beliefs. The second example shows how an inquisition can be conducted without regard for a person's civil rights. The third example demonstrates the use of the term in reference to a coroner's investigation into a person's death.