Every contested case has at least two sides. The defendant is the party against whom a criminal charge or civil claim is brought and who must respond to the allegations.

In criminal cases the defendant faces the power of the state and is entitled to constitutional and statutory protections. In civil cases the defendant may be an individual, corporation, or public body sued for damages or other relief. The label identifies procedural role, not moral conclusion.

Defendants file answers, raise defenses, and may assert counterclaims. Failure to respond can lead to default judgment in civil matters or continued prosecution in criminal ones. Representation by counsel is a practical necessity in serious cases and a formal right in many criminal prosecutions.

• Party accused or sued in a legal action
• Responds to criminal charges or civil claims
• Holds procedural rights and obligations
• May be individual or entity