A qualified person who is not a party to the action but gives information to the court on a question of law. The function of an amicus curiae is to call attention to some information that might escape the court’s attention.
An AMICUS CURAIE BRIEF (or AMICUS BRIEF) is one submitted by someone not a party to the lawsuit, to give the court information needed to make a proper decision, or to urge a particular result on behalf of the public interest or of a private interest of third parties who will be indirectly affected by the resolution of the dispute. Thus, a court might permit a group of retarded citizens to participate in a proceeding brought by a prisoner rights group to challenge a statute authorizing the expenditure of funds for the construction of prisons and mental health facilities, since invalidation of the statute would adversely affect the interests of retarded citizens.
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Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; ©