Legal Definitions - mover

In a legal context, the term mover is synonymous with movant. A movant is a party (an individual, company, or other entity) who formally requests a court to take a specific action or make a particular ruling. This formal request is called a "motion."

Here are some examples to illustrate this term:

• Example 1: Requesting to Dismiss a Case
  During a civil lawsuit, if one party believes that the opposing side's complaint lacks a legal basis, they might file a "motion to dismiss." This motion asks the judge to end the case before it goes to trial. In this scenario, the party filing the motion is the mover because they are formally asking the court for a specific action—the dismissal of the case.

• Example 2: Seeking a Change of Venue
  In a high-profile criminal case, the defense attorney might believe that extensive local media coverage has made it impossible for their client to receive a fair trial in the current jurisdiction. They would then file a "motion for a change of venue," requesting the court to move the trial to a different county or district. The defense attorney, on behalf of their client, is the mover as they are formally petitioning the court for a change in the trial's location.

• Example 3: Requesting Additional Time
  A lawyer preparing for a complex trial might realize they need more time to gather expert testimony or review extensive documents before a filing deadline. They would then file a "motion for an extension of time," asking the judge to grant them additional days or weeks. The lawyer making this request is the mover because they are formally asking the court for an order that adjusts the procedural timeline of the case.