Who are the key participants in litigation?

Asked by: Lilliana Herzog  |  Last update: February 14, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes)

Key participants in litigation include the plaintiff/petitioner (initiates the lawsuit) and defendant/respondent (defends against claims), represented by attorneys. A judge presides over legal rulings, while a jury (if present) decides the verdict. Supporting roles include witnesses, court reporters, and bailiffs.

Who are the five main participants in the courtroom?

  • The courtroom team is comprised of the following members: COURT REPORTER. ...
  • COURT CLERK. Court Clerks work in courtrooms or court clerical offices. ...
  • JUDGE. Judges preside over the courtroom, decide issues of law, and ensure that justice is served. ...
  • PROSECUTOR. ...
  • COURT OFFICER. ...
  • DEFENSE ATTORNEY. ...
  • PETITIONER. ...
  • PLAINTIFF.

Who are the parties involved in litigation?

Parties in a lawsuit are the plaintiff or petitioner bringing the case, or the defendant or respondent defending against one.

Who are the key players in the case?

Key figures in a courtroom trial are the judge, a court reporter (in superior court), a clerk, and a bailiff. Other central people are the attorneys, the plaintiff, the defendant, witnesses, court interpreters, and jurors.

Who are the participants in a lawsuit?

Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants. To submit a document to the court for its review but not to have the document entered into the official file or record of a case.

Litigation Strategy: a Secret Key to Victory

35 related questions found

Who are the people involved in a lawsuit?

TL;DR: A “party to a lawsuit” is any person, group, or legal entity directly involved in a court case. The primary parties are the plaintiff, who files the lawsuit, and the defendant, who is being sued. Other participants, such as third-party defendants or intervenors, can also be considered parties.

What are the 12 people called in court?

Petit Jury: If you are selected to serve on a “Petit Jury,” you will hear a case which is criminal or civil. A criminal trial will involve a felony (a more serious type of crime). The law requires twelve (12) jurors to be seated in a criminal case, only eight (8) jurors are required in a civil case.

Who are the key players?

The key players in a particular organization, event, or situation are the most important people or things involved in it. The former chairman was a key player in the deals that pushed the bank to the top.

Who are the most important participants in every case?

Plaintiff and Defendant

The plaintiff bears the burden of proving their claims against the defendant before a jury, or in special circumstances, the judge. A defendant is the party that the allegations in the complaint are against. They bear the burden of disproving the allegations.

Who is the most powerful in a courtroom?

While the Judge holds significant authority within the courtroom by managing proceedings, ruling on evidence, and ensuring order, the Prosecutor is often considered the single most powerful figure in the U.S. criminal justice system because they decide whether to file charges, what charges to bring, and influence plea bargains, ultimately controlling the case's direction and potential outcomes more than the judge can.
 

Who are the two parties in a lawsuit?

Every lawsuit has at least two parties: the defendant and the plaintiff. When discussing your case, it's important to understand the definition of each and how the defendant vs. plaintiff dynamic works.

What falls under litigation?

Litigation is the process of resolving disputes by filing or answering a complaint through the public court system.

Who are the participants in a civil case?

Ceri has decided to take Rory to court. Ceri is the claimant (the person who is starting the court proceedings) and is a litigant in person (someone who represents themselves without the help of a solicitor or barrister). Rory is the defendant (the person who has court proceedings brought against them).

Can a trial judge overrule a jury?

In any trial the judge is the ultimate decision maker and has the power to overturn a jury verdict if there is insufficient evidence to support that verdict or if the decision granted inadequate compensatory damages.

What are the three key actors in the court process?

The core members of the courtroom work group, which include judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, participate in courtroom processes with great frequency.

Who are the participants in a trial?

Parties - in a civil trial are the plaintiff and defendant; in a criminal trial they are the prosecutor (representing the people of the state or local political subdivision), and the defendant (the person charged with the crime);

Who is more powerful, DA or judge?

A District Attorney (DA) often wields more practical power in shaping criminal case outcomes than a judge, as DAs decide whether to file charges, what charges to file, and influence plea bargains and sentences, while judges primarily ensure legal fairness and have final say on sentencing, though their discretion can be limited by mandatory minimums, shifting power to prosecutors. Judges oversee proceedings and rule on legal matters, but the vast majority of cases end in plea deals where the prosecutor's initial charging decisions and plea offers are paramount. 

Who are the main characters in court?

This article describes the role each of these people.

  • The Judge. The judge has several roles. ...
  • The Jury. In some criminal court cases, a jury is responsible for determining whether the accused is guilty. ...
  • The Criminal and Penal Prosecuting Attorney. ...
  • The Defence Lawyer. ...
  • The Witnesses.

Who sits next to the judge in court?

The courtroom deputy, who is usually seated near the judge, administers the oaths to the witnesses, marks the exhibits, and generally helps the judge keep the trial running smoothly.

Who are the key individuals?

Key Individuals means (i) an individual or entity owning 10% or more equity stake in the organization, whether publically- or privately-held: (ii) principal officers of the organization's governing body (e.g., chairman, vice chairman, treasurer or secretary of the board of directors or board of trustees): (iii) the ...

What is a list of key personnel?

Key Personnel

  • Operations manager. ...
  • Quality control, safety, environmental manager. ...
  • Accountant, bookkeeper, controller. ...
  • Office manager. ...
  • Receptionist. ...
  • Foreperson, supervisor, lead person. ...
  • Marketing manager. ...
  • Purchasing manager.

What are the 4 types of team players?

The PTPS is an easy-to-use self-assessment exercise that helps individuals identify their primary “team player style” contributor, collaborator, communicator, or challenger.

Are stenographers being replaced by AI?

But when it comes to creating an accurate legal record, AI replacing court reporters is not a viable solution. No matter how impressive speech recognition software becomes, it cannot replicate the discernment, precision, and ethical responsibility of a trained stenographer.

What is a plaintiff attorney called?

The plaintiff's lawyer is called a plaintiff's attorney, plaintiff's counsel, or simply their lawyer, representing the person or entity initiating a civil lawsuit (the plaintiff) and advocating for their interests, often specializing in areas like personal injury or class actions.
 

What do you call people involved in a case?

The terms plaintiff and defendant are used in both civil and criminal cases. In criminal cases, the plaintiff is typically identified as “The People,” — the State, on behalf of the victim. The defendant is the individual(s) being accused of a crime or code violation.