Adjourned

Adjourned is the past participle of the verb adjourn and is also used as an adjective to describe a meeting, court session, or other proceeding that has been suspended with the intention of resuming later. An adjournment is the act of ending a session for a period, whether brief or extended, and the decision can be made by the presiding officer or by a vote, depending on the rules governing the body.

In legal contexts, a court may adjourn a case to a later date due to scheduling, the need for further evidence, or other procedural reasons. An adjournment can be temporary or indefinite; when a case is adjourned sine die, it means the matter is not currently scheduled for a reconvening date. The term highlights that no definite date for resuming proceedings has been set.

In legislative and parliamentary settings, adjournment ends a meeting or session. The form of adjournment—whether standard, to a specific date, or sine die—depends on jurisdiction and the body’s rules. Some procedures require a formal motion and majority approval, while others permit the chair to declare adjournment under predefined conditions. In corporate or committee contexts, adjournment pauses deliberations and allows for future sessions, with minutes recording the time, mode, and reason.

Etymology: from Old French ajourner, from ad- “toward” + jour “day.” See also recess, prorogation, and continuance.