Legal Definitions - query

In legal contexts, a query refers to a formal question or inquiry posed during a legal proceeding or as part of a legal document. It is typically designed to elicit specific information, clarify a point, or seek a definitive answer from a witness, a party to a case, or even the court itself.

• Example 1: Questioning a Witness
  During a personal injury trial, the defense attorney might pose a query to the plaintiff's medical expert, asking, "Could you please clarify the exact date you first diagnosed the plaintiff's injury?" This question is a direct attempt to obtain precise factual information from the expert witness.

• Example 2: Judicial Inquiry
  In an appellate court hearing, a judge might interrupt a lawyer's oral argument with a query such as, "Counsel, how does your interpretation of this statute align with the precedent set in Smith v. Jones?" Here, the judge is seeking clarification and a direct answer regarding the legal reasoning presented by the attorney.

• Example 3: Written Discovery
  As part of the pre-trial discovery process in a contract dispute, one party might send a series of written queries to the opposing side, asking for details about all communications related to the contract's negotiation. These written questions are formal requests for information and documents, requiring specific responses from the other party.