Inquests
Inquests are judicial inquiries designed to gather evidence prior to a trial, primarily to determine whether a crime has been committed. They are most commonly associated with murder investigations and serve an investigatory purpose, rather than being a venue for trial. Overseeing these procedures is a judge, who ensures that all aspects of the inquiry adhere to legal standards. Evidence collected during inquests includes physical items, witness testimonies, autopsy results, and other relevant medical tests. Notably, inquest hearings are typically closed to the public and media, allowing only those with a personal interest in the case to attend, such as legal representatives of suspects. After the inquest concludes, the gathered evidence is submitted to a superior court, where district attorneys or attorneys general decide whether to file charges. If no charges are filed, the information becomes public, although new evidence can prompt the reopening of an inquest. Beyond homicide cases, inquests can also address issues like suspicious deaths, environmental disasters, and significant corruption cases.
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Inquests
SIGNIFICANCE: Inquests are used as judicial inquiries or official examinations to gather evidence before trials begin.
The purpose of a legal inquest is to obtain information to determine whether a crime has been committed or not. Inquests are solely investigatory and are most commonly used in murder cases. During the inquests, judges oversee all judicial procedures related to the cases in question before actual trial dates are set. In state courts, assistant district attorneys represent the government and present all evidence having any legal bearing on the cases.
All forms of evidence gathered during inquests help determine whether criminal charges should be filed. The evidence gathered is then presented to the courts under sworn testimony. This includes any physical evidence, such as firearms or other weapons that might be involved with the alleged crimes. At this time, witness testimony is also presented to the courts under oath. Results of any autopsies completed by county coroners are also presented, as well as results of any ballistic testing and any other medical tests relevant to the cases.
Inquest hearings themselves are closed to both the public and the media. Only persons having personal interests in the outcomes of the cases may attend the initial hearings. These people may include legal representation of any suspects under investigation. After an inquest is completed, the presiding judge forwards all the evidence submitted to the relevant court, which is likely to be a superior court. At that time, evidence gathered through the inquest is accessible only to attorneys general, district attorneys, and defendant counsel.
After reviewing all information on a case, a district attorney or an attorney general decides whether charges should be filed. If no charges are found and it is determined that there will be no criminal trial, the information and evidence gathered by the inquest are opened to the public. After an open finding is reported to the public, an inquest can be reopened if new evidence is presented to the coroner.
The most common types of inquest are medical examinations into the causes of suspicious deaths. County coroners normally perform these duties. The requirements for qualified coroners are vast and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. However, most jurisdictions require their coroners to have legal training. Other examples of inquests include inquiries into environmental disasters and cases of severe corruption resulting in possible impeachment or incarceration.
Bibliography
Blanche, Tony, and Brad Schreiber. Death in Paradise: An Illustrated History of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2001.
"Inquests and Inquest Reports." Citizens Information, 19 Sept. 2022, www.citizensinformation.ie/en/death/sudden-or-unexplained-death/inquests-and-inquest-reports/. Accessed 5 July 2024.
Reback, Cameron. "Article 2 and Standards of Proof in Inquests: Unintelligible, Unclear, and Unpredictable." Judicial Review, 12 June 2024, doi.org/10.1080/10854681.2024.2347081. Accessed 5 July 2024.
Schneir, Walter, and Miriam Schneir. Invitation to an Inquest. New York: Pantheon, 1983.