Legal Definitions - adjudicatory proceeding

An adjudicatory proceeding is a legal process in which a judge or administrative agency decides on issues of fact or law after hearing arguments and evidence from the parties involved. It is also known as an adjudication hearing.

Examples of adjudicatory proceedings include:

• A hearing in a criminal case to determine whether the accused should be released on bail before trial.
• A hearing in an administrative agency to decide on a person's rights and duties after they have been given notice and an opportunity to be heard.
• A hearing in a child abuse and neglect case to determine whether the state has the right to intervene on behalf of the child.

These examples illustrate how an adjudicatory proceeding is a formal process that allows parties to present their arguments and evidence to a decision-maker who will then make a ruling based on the facts and the law.