Legal Definitions - law question

A law question, more formally known as a question of law, refers to an issue in a legal case that requires a judge to interpret or apply a legal rule, statute, or established legal precedent. Unlike a "question of fact," which asks what actually happened (and is typically decided by a jury or a judge acting as a fact-finder), a question of law asks what the law *is* or how it *applies* to a particular set of circumstances. Judges are responsible for deciding questions of law, and these decisions can often be appealed to higher courts.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Contract Interpretation

  Imagine two businesses have a contract for the delivery of goods. The contract states that "delivery must occur within a reasonable timeframe." One business delivers the goods after three months, and the other business claims this is a breach of contract, arguing that three months is not "reasonable."

  The law question here would be: "What constitutes a 'reasonable timeframe' for delivery under the terms of this specific contract and applicable commercial law?" The judge would need to interpret the legal meaning of "reasonable timeframe" based on contract law principles, industry standards, and the specific context of the agreement, rather than simply deciding if the goods were delivered (which would be a question of fact).

• Example 2: Statutory Application

  A local city ordinance prohibits "loud and disruptive noises" between 10 PM and 7 AM. A resident is cited for having a loud conversation on their porch with friends at 11 PM. The resident argues that a conversation, even if loud, does not legally qualify as "disruptive noise" under the ordinance, which they believe targets things like construction or loud music.

  The law question for the court would be: "Does a loud conversation on a porch legally fall within the definition of 'loud and disruptive noises' as intended by City Ordinance 456.7, or is the ordinance's scope limited to other types of disturbances?" The judge must interpret the specific language of the ordinance and apply it to the situation, determining the legal scope of the law, not just whether the conversation was loud.

• Example 3: Admissibility of Evidence

  During a criminal trial, the prosecution attempts to introduce a witness statement that was taken by police without the witness being read their Miranda rights. The defense attorney objects, arguing the statement should be excluded from evidence.

  The law question for the judge is: "Is the witness statement admissible in court under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and relevant rules of criminal procedure, given that the witness was not read their Miranda rights?" The judge must apply constitutional law and rules of evidence to determine the legal admissibility of the statement, deciding whether the law permits its use in court, not whether the statement was actually made or what it contains.