Legal Definitions - ex parte hearing

An ex parte hearing is a legal proceeding in which only one party is present or given the opportunity to be heard. This means that the other party is not present or aware of the hearing. It is also known as an ex parte proceeding.

For example, if a person wants to obtain a restraining order against someone, they may request an ex parte hearing to get the order quickly without the other party being present. The judge will make a decision based on the evidence presented by the requesting party.

Another example is in a criminal case, where a defendant may request an ex parte hearing to challenge the legality of a search warrant. The judge will hear arguments from the defendant's lawyer without the prosecution being present.