open court

noun

: a court that anyone is allowed to attend
He testified in open court.

Examples of open court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Francis, who has only ever said a handful of words in open court, somberly addressed the judge and asked for mercy so he could be reunited with his children. Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 The husband and wife have three children ages 13, 10 and 7, according to a woman in open court during the probable cause hearing. Landon Mion, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024 The judge also pushed Mohawk’s countersuit into arbitration, a forum for resolving disputes privately instead of in open court. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 21 Oct. 2024 Advertisement O’Connell’s friends and parishioners had hoped Thursday’s preliminary hearing — usually the first time prosecutors have to present significant evidence in a case in open court — would provide some motive for the out-of-nowhere shooting. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for open court 

Dictionary Entries Near open court

Cite this Entry

“Open court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20court. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

open court

noun
1
: a recorded judicial proceeding that is presided over by a judge and attended by the parties and their attorneys and that is convened for the purpose of conducting official business compare in camera
2
: a session of a court that is open to the public
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!