Adjournment

Adjournment is the formal suspension of a meeting, session, or hearing, with the intention of resuming at a later time. The term is used in parliamentary bodies, legislatures, and judicial proceedings. Etymologically, it derives from the French ajourner, meaning to put off or to make something clear at a later time.

In legislative and deliberative settings, adjournment ends a meeting or session, and is distinct from a recess, which is a temporary break within a session. An adjournment can be for a specified date or for an indefinite period, in which case it may be described as adjournment sine die. The rules governing who may move for an adjournment and who may grant it vary by jurisdiction and body, and the decision can affect the timetable for subsequent business or the prorogation of the session.

In judicial contexts, adjournment postpones a hearing, trial, or other legal proceeding. Reasons commonly include the need for additional time to prepare, the unavailability of counsel or witnesses, or scheduling conflicts. An adjournment may be granted with or without costs to the requesting party, and may be set for a fixed future date or until further notice. It can interact with statutory deadlines, evidentiary rules, and other procedural timelines.

Overall, adjournment serves to pause proceedings while preserving the possibility of continuation. The specific procedures and effects of an adjournment depend on the forum and jurisdiction, including how it interacts with rules about timetables, costs, and subsequent scheduling.