Legal Definitions - specific traverse

A specific traverse is a type of legal pleading that involves a formal denial of a factual allegation made by the opposing party's pleading. It is a type of common traverse, which is a denial accompanied by a formal offer for decision of the point denied.

• Smith filed a traverse to Allen's complaint, asserting that he did not knowingly provide false information.
• A defendant in a criminal case may file a traverse to delay the trial to a following session or assize.

The first example illustrates how a specific traverse can be used in a civil case to deny a specific allegation made by the opposing party. The second example shows how a traverse can be used in a criminal case to delay the trial to a later date.