Legal Definitions - object

As a verb, to "object" means to formally raise a protest or disagreement during a trial or legal proceeding. As a noun, it refers to the aim, purpose, or goal of a legal action, agreement, or court proceeding. It can also denote the specific person or thing toward which a legal thought, feeling, or action is directed.

The term "object" has several distinct meanings in a legal context, depending on whether it is used as a verb or a noun.

• As a verb, "to object" means to formally express disagreement or disapproval, typically during a court proceeding. It is a formal challenge raised by an attorney to a question, statement, or piece of evidence presented by the opposing side, asking the judge to rule on its admissibility or appropriateness.
  • Example: During a criminal trial, the prosecutor asked a witness about a rumor they had heard. The defense attorney immediately stood up and said, "Objection, Your Honor, hearsay!"

    Explanation: Here, the defense attorney is using "object" as a verb to formally challenge the prosecutor's question, arguing that the witness's answer would be inadmissible hearsay evidence.

• As a noun, "object" can refer to the aim, purpose, or goal of an activity, a legal proceeding, or a specific provision within a law. It describes what someone intends to achieve or what a law is designed to accomplish.
  • Example 1: The primary object of the new consumer protection law was to prevent deceptive advertising practices by online retailers.

    Explanation: In this context, "object" refers to the main purpose or goal that the legislature intended to achieve by enacting the consumer protection law.

  • Example 2: The object of the plaintiff's lawsuit was to compel the construction company to repair the structural damage to their home caused by faulty workmanship.

    Explanation: Here, "object" denotes the specific aim or desired outcome that the plaintiff sought to achieve by initiating the legal action.

• As a noun, "object" can also refer to a person or thing that is the focus or target of a legal action, investigation, or dispute.
  • Example: In a complex inheritance dispute, a rare collection of antique coins became the central object of contention among the heirs.

    Explanation: The antique coin collection is the specific item that is the focus of the legal disagreement and around which the dispute revolves.