Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: INTERPELLATE
Definition: Interpellate means to interrupt someone who is speaking, usually a lawyer or a government official, by asking them a question. This can happen in court or in a legislative meeting. In some countries like France, Italy, or Germany, a legislator can also interpellate by bringing up a policy for discussion. Another word for interpellate is interpel.
Related term: interpellation (noun)
Definition: To interrupt a lawyer's argument with a question (if a judge), or to interrupt a legislature's calendar by questioning a ministerial policy (if a legislator).
Example 1: During the trial, the judge interpellated the defense attorney to clarify a point.
Example 2: The legislator interpellated the minister about the new policy, causing a delay in the legislative calendar.
Explanation: In both examples, someone interrupts another person's argument or schedule to ask a question or bring up a concern. This is what it means to interpellate. In the first example, the judge interrupts the lawyer's argument to ask a question. In the second example, the legislator interrupts the legislative calendar to question a ministerial policy.