Legal Definitions - oyez

Oyez is a traditional exclamation used to command attention and signal the start of important proceedings, particularly in a legal context. Derived from an old French word meaning "hear ye," it serves as a formal call for silence and focus before a court session begins or a significant announcement is made.

• Imagine a packed courtroom awaiting the start of a highly anticipated criminal trial. As the judge prepares to enter, the court officer steps forward and loudly proclaims, "Oyez, oyez, oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable Court of [County Name] are admonished to draw near and give their their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honorable Court!" This use of oyez immediately shifts the atmosphere, demanding silence and signaling that the formal proceedings are about to commence.

• When the U.S. Supreme Court convenes for an oral argument, a marshal traditionally announces, "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States, are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honorable Court!" Here, oyez acts as a solemn and formal declaration, preparing everyone present for the serious legal arguments that are about to unfold before the nation's highest judicial body.

• During a special ceremony to induct new attorneys into the state bar, held in a grand courthouse, a senior clerk might begin the proceedings with "Oyez, oyez, oyez! Let all those gathered for this solemn occasion prepare to witness the swearing-in of new members to the bar of this state!" In this context, oyez is used not for a trial, but to lend gravity and formality to a significant professional milestone, ensuring that all attendees are attentive to the importance of the event.