Legal Definitions - non sequitur

A non sequitur describes a statement, conclusion, or response that does not logically follow from what has been previously said or presented. Essentially, it means "it does not follow" – the connection between the preceding information and the subsequent statement is absent or illogical. This term is used to identify a break in logical progression, whether in an argument, a conclusion, or a conversation.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a non sequitur:

• Example 1 (Illogical Conclusion): Imagine a lawyer arguing in court, "My client has always paid his taxes on time, therefore he could not have committed this robbery."

  Explanation: This is a non sequitur because the client's history of paying taxes (the premise) has no logical bearing on whether he committed a robbery (the conclusion). One does not logically follow from the other; they are unrelated facts.

• Example 2 (Irrelevant Remark): During a serious discussion about a company's declining sales figures, a board member suddenly interjects, "I think we should repaint the breakroom walls blue."

  Explanation: This comment is a non sequitur because the suggestion to repaint the breakroom walls has no logical connection or relevance to the ongoing conversation about declining sales. It's an abrupt and unrelated remark that breaks the flow of the discussion.