material witness
Crucial trial observer
A material witness is someone whose testimony is considered essential to a legal proceeding—typically a criminal trial.
The witness has direct knowledge of facts central to the case, not just peripheral details.
Courts can compel material witnesses to testify and, in some jurisdictions, detain them to ensure their appearance: The judge ordered the material witness held without bail until the trial.
- confidential informantSecret source for authorities
- exculpatory evidenceProof of innocence
- grand juryInvestigative charging body
- legal proceedingsFormal court-based dispute resolution
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
subpoena · person of interest · testimony · flight risk · sworn statement · perjury · corroboration · cross-examination · affidavit · forensic evidence · court testimony · admissibility · impeachment · circumstantial evidence · testimonial evidence · detention · oath · eyewitness
- witnesseseyewitness, testifier, deponent, affiant, attestor
- court rolesjudge, juror, plaintiff, defendant, prosecutor
- testimonyoral testimony, court testimony, sworn testimony, sworn statements, legal testimony
- protected personsnoncombatant, civilian, refugee, asylum seeker, minor
material, witness, matter, materials, materialism, materialist, materialistic, materially, materialize