Legal Definitions - legal prejudice

Definition: Legal prejudice refers to a condition that can defeat a party's legal rights or claims. It can also refer to a preconceived judgment formed without a factual basis.

• If a defendant can show that dismissing a case will deprive them of a substantive property right or preclude them from raising a defense that will be unavailable or endangered in a second suit, it can be considered legal prejudice.
• Undue prejudice can occur when a fact-trier is exposed to evidence that is persuasive but inadmissible or that arouses emotions to the point where logical reasoning is abandoned.
• Prejudicial publicity can occur when there is extensive media attention devoted to an upcoming civil or criminal trial, which can deprive the defendant of a fair trial under the Due Process Clause.

These examples illustrate how legal prejudice can harm a party's legal rights or claims, and how it can also refer to a preconceived judgment formed without a factual basis. It is important to avoid legal prejudice in order to ensure a fair and just legal process.