case

A case is a civil or criminal proceeding at law or in equity. It can also be referred to as an action, suit, or controversy, depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the dispute.

• A civil case usually involves two parties of equal status, such as a case between two citizens or a case between a citizen and a corporation.
• A criminal case involves a government against a defendant; one party (the prosecutor) represents the State; the other party (the defendant) generally speaking, is an individual or a corporation.

See controversy for an explanation of the “case or controversy” requirement in federal court.

[Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• CIVICS
• the Constitution
• THE LEGAL PROCESS
• appellate procedure
• class actions
• courts
• criminal procedure
• wex definitions
• civil procedure
• constitutional law
• criminal law and procedure
• government
• legal education and practice