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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Material Witness
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A quick definition of Material Witness:
A material witness is someone who has important information about a case that can help decide who is right or wrong. This information is very valuable and not many other people know it. Judges try very hard to make sure that material witnesses can come to court and tell what they know. Sometimes, if a material witness cannot come to court, they may be kept in a safe place until they can testify. This is because their testimony is very important and cannot be replaced by anyone else.
A more thorough explanation:
A material witness is someone who has important information about a case that can affect its outcome. This information is usually very valuable and not many other people have it. Judges try to make sure that material witnesses are available to testify in court because their testimony is very important.
For example, in a case where someone is accused of illegally transporting and harboring aliens, some of the aliens being transported might be material witnesses. If they are citizens of another country and cannot be easily subpoenaed to testify in court, they might be detained to make sure they are available to testify.
Another example could be a witness who saw a crime happen and can provide important details that no one else knows. This witness would be considered a material witness because their testimony is crucial to the case.