Defendant

Defendant

A defendant or defender (Δ in legal shorthand) is any party required to answer a plaintiff's complaint in a civil lawsuit, or any party that has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute. (Respondent is the parallel term used in a proceeding which is commenced by petition.)

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Famous quotes containing the word defendant:

    “My profession lent itself nicely to my vocation for heights. It freed me of any bitterness towards my fellow men, who were always in my debt, without my owing them anything. It placed me above the judge whom, I in turn judged, above the defendant whom I forced into gratitude.”
    —Albert Camus (1913–1960)