Legal Definitions - demur

Definition: To demur is to formally object or challenge a pleading in a legal case. This is done through a demurrer, which is a formal response to the pleading. The demurrer admits the alleged facts to be true, but argues that no specific cause of action or defense is found within the pleading's allegations.

• During the trial, the defense attorney demurred to the prosecution's evidence, arguing that it did not prove their client's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• The plaintiff's lawyer filed a demurrer, claiming that the defendant's pleading did not state a valid cause of action.

These examples illustrate how a demur is used in a legal context to challenge the validity of a pleading or evidence presented in a case. By filing a demurrer, a party is essentially saying that the other side has not provided enough evidence or legal basis to support their argument.