Definitions for "Bifurcate"
Two-pronged; forked.
divided into or made up of two parts.
To divide into two branches.
To separate issues in a case, such as liability and damages, so that one issue or set of issues can be tried and resolved before the others.
To try issues separately, such as guilt and criminal responsibility in a criminal proceeding or liability and damages in a civil action.
To separate the issues in a case so that one issue or set of issues can be tried and resolved before the others. For example, death penalty cases are always bifurcated. The court or juryfirst hears the evidence of guilt and reaches a verdict, and then hears evidence about and decides upon which punishment to impose (death or life in prison without parole). Bifurcated trials are also common in product liability class action lawsuits in which many people claim that they were injured by the same defective product -- the issue of liability is tried first, followed by the question of damages. Bifurcation is authorized by Rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Describes lengthwise slotting of a flat spring contact, as used in a PC connector, to provide additional independently operating points of contact.
Binding Precedent
plane shape