Legal Definitions - Matter of Law

Definition: A legal issue that can be decided by a judge or court based on the interpretation of the law, rather than on the facts of the case. It is also known as a question of law.

Examples:

• Whether a contract is enforceable is a matter of law.
• Whether a defendant's actions constitute negligence is a matter of law.

The examples illustrate that a matter of law is a legal issue that can be resolved by interpreting the law, rather than by considering the specific facts of a case. In the first example, the enforceability of a contract is determined by the legal requirements for a valid contract, rather than by the specific details of the contract in question. In the second example, the determination of whether the defendant was negligent is based on the legal definition of negligence, rather than on the specific circumstances of the case.