In legal terms, what does "ex parte" mean?

"Ex parte" is a legal term that refers to a situation where a decision is made by a judge or an administrative authority with only one party present, without requiring the other party to be present or notified. This typically occurs in cases where immediate action is needed, and it may not be practical to notify the other party beforehand. The essence of an "ex parte" proceeding is that it involves unilateral consideration, meaning that only one side of the argument or case is presented to the decision-maker at that moment.

In administrative law, ex parte communications can be particularly sensitive, as they may raise concerns about fairness and due process if one party has access to certain information or arguments that the other does not. For this reason, many administrative procedures have specific rules governing ex parte communications to maintain fairness and transparency in the process.

This understanding clarifies why unilateral consideration aptly captures the meaning of "ex parte," distinguishing it from scenarios where both parties are involved, such as in public hearings or open court procedures, which would necessitate the presence of all parties to ensure a fair deliberation process.