Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hear or consider a legal case, argument, or appeal again, typically by the same court or a higher court. It implies a formal reconsideration of a matter that has already been heard and decided.

Usage

• The verb "rehear" is used primarily in formal legal contexts. It describes the action of a court conducting a new hearing on a case, often because new evidence has emerged, a significant legal error is alleged, or a party has requested a reconsideration.
• It is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., a case, an appeal, a motion).

Examples

• Verb:
  • The appellate court decided to rehear the case based on the new testimony.
  • The judge granted the motion to rehear the defendant's appeal.

Advanced Usage

• "to rehear an appeal": To conduct a new hearing on an appeal that has already been decided.
  • The Supreme Court rarely agrees to rehear an appeal after issuing its judgment.
• "to petition the court to rehear": To formally request that a court hold a new hearing.
  • The defense attorney filed a motion to petition the court to rehear the sentencing phase.

Variants and Related Words

• Rehearing (n): The act or instance of hearing a case again.
  • The defendant was granted a rehearing.
• Reheard (v): The past tense and past participle form of "rehear".
  • The tribunal reheard the arguments last month.

Synonyms

• Retry: To try a case again in court. (Note: "Retry" often implies a completely new trial, sometimes with a new jury, while "rehear" often refers to the same court reconsidering the case.)
• Reconsider: To think about something again, especially with a view to changing a decision. (This is a broader, less formal legal term.)

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

Verb

1. hear or try a court case anew