intervenors

An intervenor is a person or entity that seeks to join an already ongoing legal or administrative proceeding as a party because the outcome may affect their legal rights, interests, or responsibilities. Intervenors are distinct from amici curiae (friends of the court) in that they request party status and rights to participate in the case.

In civil procedure, intervention is typically requested by filing a motion to intervene. If the court grants the motion, the intervenor may receive party status and participate to present evidence, file pleadings, and pursue or defend appeals, subject to the scope determined by the court and applicable rules. There are two main paths: intervention as of right and permissive intervention. Intervention as of right applies when the intervenor has an interest relating to the subject matter of the action that may be impaired without intervention, and the intervenor’s interests are not adequately represented by existing parties. Permissive intervention is allowed at the court’s discretion when the intervenor shares a common legal question with the case and its participation would not unduly delay or prejudice the proceedings.

Courts assess factors such as timeliness of the intervention, the directness of the intervenor’s interest, potential prejudice to other parties, and whether the intervenor’s participation would aid in resolving the dispute. Intervenors can include private individuals, organizations, government bodies, or other stakeholders, including groups concerned with environmental, commercial, or public-interest issues.

The exact rights granted to an intervenor—ranging from limited participation to full party status—depend on jurisdiction and the court’s ruling.