judicial inquiry
Legal fact-finding process
A judicial inquiry is a formal investigation conducted by a judge or court, typically into matters of public concern—government misconduct, institutional failures, or deaths under suspicious circumstances.
Unlike regular trials, judicial inquiries focus on fact-finding rather than determining guilt: The minister called for a judicial inquiry into police corruption.
Findings may lead to recommendations but not criminal convictions.
- juryLegal decision-making body
- depositionsFormal pretrial questioning
- judgeOne who decides
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- fact-findingSeeking verified information
evidence collection · hearings · open hearing · witness testimony · ombudsman · cross-examination · court system · tribunal · due process · subpoena · common law · forensic expert · case review · prosecutor · corruption · proceedings · witness · expert witness
- investigationsinvestigation report, audit, investigation, review, FBI investigation
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- Investigative BodiesFBI, CIA, DEA, ATF, NSA
- death investigationautopsy report, cause of death, death certificate, coroner's office, forensic pathologist
- inquiriesquestion, query, request, help request, FAQ
- court proceedingstrial, arraignment, verdict, hearing, testimony
judicial inquiryrumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
gossip · hearsay · speculation
judicial inquirytrial
Judicial examination of claims
criminal prosecution · litigation · lawsuit · court case · adjudication
judicial inquirycover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
whitewash · suppression · concealment · stonewalling · obstruction