ex parte

adverb or adjective

ex par·​te (ˌ)eks-ˈpär-tē 

1

: on or from one side or party only

—used of legal proceedings

2

: from a one-sided or partisan point of view

Did you know?

Latin has not been over-used in a procedural context ('ex parte' being a rare exception,) wrote a correspondent to the London Times in May 1999. Indeed, ex parte (which literally meant "on behalf [of]" in Medieval Latin) pops up quite often in legal settings. An ex parte proceeding, for example, is one that occurs at the request of and for the benefit of one party, usually without the knowledge and participation of any other party. Even when ex parte steps outside of the courtroom - to be used of an ex parte meeting, interview, chat, conversation, investigation, discussion, or contact, for example - the one-sided sense often has some sort of legal or legislative slant, referring to involvement of just one party or side in a case or dispute.

Examples of ex parte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to her response, Christina filed an ex parte that alleges that Josh made questionable financial moves in the days surrounding their split related to her properties in Tennessee. —Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 26 July 2024

After getting the ex parte order, police said Kimball’s body was exhumed last November and sent to Utah Medical Examiner’s Office for testing, which found a DNA profile from Kimball on an article of Tanya’s clothing. —Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 26 June 2024

Steel had previously called for a mistrial in the case over the ex parte fiasco, and Glanville also denied that. —Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 June 2024

An imposing rectory, designed by David Rockwell, rotates to accommodate the putative principal’s office and a serene courtyard where the conversations are ex parte. —Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Legal Definition

ex parte

adverb or adjective

ex par·​te ˈeks-ˈpär-tē, -tā 

: on behalf of or involving only one party to a legal matter and in the absence of and usually without notice to the other party

an ex parte motion

relief granted ex parte

—used in citations to indicate the party seeking judicial relief in a case

Ex Parte Jones, 7 U.S. 2 (1866)

compare in re, inter partes

Etymology

Medieval Latin, on behalf (of)