Legal Definitions - remanet

A remanet refers to a legal case or proceeding that was scheduled to be heard or completed on a specific date but could not proceed or conclude as planned. Instead, its hearing or trial is postponed to a later time, often due to unforeseen circumstances, court scheduling conflicts, or the need for additional preparation.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Complex Trial Exceeds Allotted Time
  A high-profile corporate fraud trial was initially scheduled for two weeks. However, due to the extensive volume of evidence presented and the detailed cross-examination of numerous expert witnesses, the trial could not be completed within the allotted timeframe. The judge, therefore, declared the remaining portion of the trial a remanet, rescheduling the final arguments and jury deliberations for a new block of time several weeks later.

  Explanation: This situation demonstrates a remanet because the legal proceeding (the trial) could not be concluded on its original schedule and had to be postponed to a future date to allow for its completion.

• Example 2: Unavailability of a Key Participant
  A hearing for a property dispute was set for a Monday morning. On Friday afternoon, the lead attorney for one of the parties suffered a medical emergency and was unable to attend. Given the attorney's critical role in representing their client, the judge granted a postponement, making the hearing a remanet until the attorney recovered and a new date could be set.

  Explanation: In this instance, the hearing became a remanet because a crucial participant's unexpected unavailability prevented the proceeding from taking place as originally scheduled, necessitating a postponement.

• Example 3: Court Calendar Congestion
  A civil lawsuit involving a construction defect was ready for trial, and a date was assigned. However, a last-minute, urgent criminal case took precedence on the court's calendar, requiring the judge to reallocate resources. As a result, the civil trial had to be bumped from its original slot and was rescheduled for several months later, becoming a remanet.

  Explanation: This example illustrates a remanet arising from court scheduling conflicts, where a previously scheduled case is postponed to accommodate other pressing matters, pushing it to a later date.