adversary procedure

In Anglo-American law, the principal method of offering evidence in court. It requires the opposing sides to present pertinent information and to introduce and cross-examine witnesses before a jury and/or a judge. Each side must conduct its own investigation. In criminal proceedings, the prosecution represents the government and has at its disposal the police department with its investigators and laboratories; the defense must arrange and pay for its own investigation. (Legal aid is available for the poor.) In civil (noncriminal) proceedings the adversary system works similarly, except that both sides engage private attorneys to prepare their cases. Skillful questioning often produces testimony that can be interpreted in various ways; in cross-examination, lawyers seek to alter the jury's initial perception of the testimony.

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Adversary may refer to:

in religion:

• Satan, whose name means adversary in the Hebrew language.

In computer science:

• Adversary (cryptography), malicious entity in cryptography whose aim is to prevent the users of the cryptosystem from achieving their goal.
• Adversary (online algorithm), the adversary model is used in online algorithms in order to show competitiveness of randomized algorithms.

In fiction:

• Adversary (comics), villain from the Marvel comics universe
• Geppetto (Fables), a character from the comic book series Fables also known as "The Adversary"
• "The Adversary" (DS9 episode), the season finale of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's third season
• 'The Adversary' Book four in "The Saga Of The Exiles" by Julian May (ISBN 0-330-28031-7)

In music:

• The Adversary (album), solo album by Ihsahn of influential Norwegian black metal band Emperor

In law:

• Adversarial system, a system of law commonly used in common-law countries
• Adversary proceeding, proceeding used in bankruptcy processes