Dictionary
matter
a transaction or situation for which a lawyer is providing advice for a client or in which a judge is presiding
The senior partner informed his partners of a new matter on which the firm would be retained.
Phrase Bank
- The parties settled the matter.
- Our client is the defendant in this matter.
- That case differs from the present matter.
Additional Notes
- matter of law an issue that is decided by a judge and not by a jury. The judge rules on matters of law and such matters are determined through the application of statutes, case law etc.
- matter of fact a jury must decide whether or not matters of fact discussed during a trial actually happened. Where there is no jury, the judge is the factfinder.
- matter of record something that is entered into the written court record and can be proved by the production of that record. This may include court documents, rulings, objections etc: In the case at trial, the jury found as a matter of fact that the defendant had failed to make payment for the goods on time. The judge therefore held, as a matter of law, that the defendant's failure to pay was a breach of contract. The documents produced during the trial are matters of record.