Legal Definitions - Setting

In a legal context, a setting refers to the specific date and time officially designated for a court event to take place. This could be for a trial, a hearing, a conference, or any other formal proceeding where parties are expected to appear before a judge or other judicial officer. It essentially marks the scheduled appointment on the court's calendar.

Here are some examples illustrating the term:

• Imagine a situation where a landlord is suing a tenant for unpaid rent. The court will issue a notice stating that the case is scheduled for a small claims hearing on September 10th at 1:30 PM. This particular date and time is the setting for their legal dispute to be heard and resolved by the judge.

• Consider a criminal case where a person has been accused of a felony. Before the full trial, the defense attorney might file a motion to suppress certain evidence. The court will then schedule a specific date and time, say June 5th at 10:00 AM, for arguments on this motion. This scheduled time is the setting for the motion hearing.

• In a complex business dispute, the lawyers for both companies might need to meet with the judge to discuss the progress of the case and plan future steps. The judge's clerk might send out a notice indicating a status conference is scheduled for November 22nd at 11:00 AM. This scheduled meeting time is the setting for that conference.