open court

noun

: a court that anyone is allowed to attend
He testified in open court.

Examples of open court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After reviewing former Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen’s explanation of his abrupt resignation, a Hamilton County judge has agreed to block attorneys’ attempts to question the long-time head of the supermarket giant about his departure from the retailer in open court. Alexander Coolidge, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 Jurors hear evidence in open court, deliberate with other citizens about the issues and return verdicts that reflect community standards, in ways that backroom deals and private arbitration cannot. Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025 Instead, Alcaraz floated the ball over the net post into the open court. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025 Over the government’s objections, a statement from Hegseth from that same morning, during the deployment of troops in D.C. was played in open court. Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open court

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“Open court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20court. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

open court

noun
1
: a recorded judicial proceeding that is presided over by a judge and attended by the parties and their attorneys and that is convened for the purpose of conducting official business compare in camera
2
: a session of a court that is open to the public
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