What does "hold" mean in court?
Asked by: Reyna Mitchell | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (57 votes)
In court, "holding" primarily means a court's definitive legal decision or ruling on a specific issue, forming a precedent for future cases, as in "the court held that the contract was valid". It also refers to a judge presiding over proceedings ("holding court") or, in criminal cases, delaying a defendant's release pending further review (a "hold" or "holding charge").
What does "hold it" mean in court?
Held in the context of a legal judgment or pronouncement means decided or ruled, as in "the court held that the contract was valid." The holding of the court is binding, and it can only be set aside by appealing the judgment before a higher forum.
What does it mean when charges say hold?
A "hold" is a document which can be issued by any agency. The Hold Arrest type is used to indicate an arrest(s) pending the adjudication of local charges/cases. A Hold Arrest is NEVER booked as the first arrest.
What is the legal definition of hold?
hold vt. held. hold·ing. 1 a : to have lawful possession or ownership of [held the property as tenants in common] [the band s the title to the car] b : to have as a privilege or position of responsibility [ing a retail liquor license] [the judges…shall their offices during good behavior “U.S. Constitution art.
What does holding in court mean?
A court's decision on a matter of law in civil procedure is called a "holding." It frequently refers to a ruling on a crucial issue that decides the outcome of the entire case.
🔵 Hold Court Meaning - Hold Court Examples - Hold Court Definition - Idioms - Hold COurt
What is a case hold?
Often referred to as a "litigation hold" or "preservation order," a legal hold helps to prevent spoliation (the destruction, alteration, or loss) of potential evidence that may be needed during the course of legal proceedings.
Is holding the same as judgment?
Some people believe that a holding is the same as a verdict. In reality, a holding specifically addresses legal interpretations, while a verdict pertains to the jury's decision. Another misconception is that all court decisions are holdings. Only those that address legal issues in a case qualify as holdings.
How long do legal holds last?
How long does a legal hold last? A legal hold lasts until the relevant legal matter is resolved or no longer anticipated.
What are the three forms of hold?
The three main forms (V1, V2, V3) of the irregular verb "hold" are hold (base/present), held (past simple), and held (past participle). Other key forms include the third-person singular holds (he/she/it holds) and the present participle holding (e.g., I am holding).
Why would a criminal case be on hold?
Scheduling conflicts. If an attorney involved in the case has a scheduling conflict with another case, a judge may agree to delay a trial in order to accommodate the attorney. In some instances, a judge may even agree to delay a trial for more personal reasons, such as the birth of a lawyer's grandchild.
Is holding the same as jail?
In criminal law, a holding cell is defined as a courthouse jail, lockup, or confinement facility, where an accused person is temporarily detained or confined during a trial or pending a sentence.
What does a hold charge mean?
The bank places a hold on your account as a means of assuring payment to the merchant and making sure you don't spend more than you have. This standard precaution can be compared with requiring presentation of a driver's license for check payment purchases.
What is the legal hold process?
A legal hold is a process that an organization uses to preserve all forms of potentially relevant information when litigation is pending or reasonably anticipated. It is often issued when an organization receives a request for production in pending litigation.
What is a holding charge?
A holding charge is a minor criminal offense filed against an individual. Its primary purpose is to legally keep the accused in custody while prosecutors take time to gather evidence and prepare more serious charges for their case.
What would trigger a legal hold?
A litigation hold is triggered when litigation is reasonably anticipated, or when parties receive notice of potential claims or threats of legal action. More broadly, legal holds are often initiated for internal investigations, regulatory proceedings, or other complaints where evidence needs to be preserved.
Can a legal hold be lifted?
Legal holds in association with litigation must remain in place for the life of the litigation including appeals. However, once the litigation is over, the legal hold should be lifted and the documents/data destroyed as per the company's standard document/data destruction policy.
Why is my lawyer taking so long to settle my case?
If you're asking, “why is my lawyer taking so long to settle my case?”, it could be because: Dispute liability or argue that others are responsible. Require separate negotiations and legal filings. The more parties involved, the longer it may take to reach a fair resolution.
What does holding mean in court?
A holding is a court's determination of a matter of law based on the issue presented in the particular case. In other words: under this law, with these facts, this is the result.
What is the hardest case to win in court?
The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, like crimes against children or sexual assault, where jurors struggle with bias; complex, voluminous evidence, such as white-collar fraud; and defenses that challenge societal norms, like an insanity plea, which faces high scrutiny and conflicting expert testimony. Cases with weak physical evidence, uncooperative witnesses (like in sex crimes), or those involving unpopular defendants (e.g., child abusers) are particularly challenging for defense attorneys.
What color do judges like to see in court?
Judges generally prefer neutral, conservative colors like navy, gray, black, and white, as these convey seriousness, respect, and professionalism, avoiding distractions in a formal court setting; bright colors, bold patterns, and overly casual attire should be avoided to show you're taking the proceedings seriously. While some suggest lighter, muted tones (like light blue) might leave a favorable impression, the key is sobriety and fitting in, not standing out.
What is a court hold?
Legal hold, also known as litigation hold or preservation order, plays a pivotal role in eDiscovery. It is a directive issued by a court or an organization to preserve all potentially relevant electronic and physical evidence pertaining to a pending or anticipated legal proceeding.
What is a person holding court?
If someone holds court in a place, they are surrounded by a lot of people who are paying them a lot of attention because they are interesting or famous.
How badly does a judgment hurt your credit?
Since judgments no longer appear on your credit report, they do not directly impact your credit score. However, financial choices and behaviors that lead to having a judgment on your report may indirectly affect your score. You may have outstanding balances, debts, collections and more.