Legal Definitions - inference-stacking

Definition: The practice of using one or more inferences to arrive at a legal conclusion.

Example: In a court case, a lawyer may use inference-stacking to build a case against the defendant. For example, they may infer that the defendant had a motive to commit the crime, then stack that inference with another inference that the defendant had the opportunity to commit the crime, and so on, until they arrive at a conclusion that the defendant is guilty.

Explanation: Inference-stacking is a common practice in legal proceedings, where lawyers use a series of inferences to build a case. Each inference is based on evidence or testimony presented in court, and the lawyer uses these inferences to arrive at a legal conclusion. By stacking these inferences on top of each other, the lawyer can create a strong argument that supports their case.