Short Cause — Law Dictionary

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

In English chancery practice, and in some of the United States, a cause the trial of which will take but a short time, and which may accordingly be put on a special calendar for speedy trial. See 8 Misc. Rep. (N. Y.) 94; 247 111. 112.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A cause the trial of which will presumably be brief.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

A suit in the chancery division of the high court or justice, where there is only a simple point for discussion, which will probably occupy not more than ten minutes in the hearing. A suit may often be greatly accelerated by being placed on the list of short causes, which are heard one day in each week (generally Saturday) during the sittings of the court; Dan. Ch. Pr. (5th Ed.) 836; Hunt Eq. pt I, ch. 4, § 4. A similar provision is familiar to the practice of the courts of several of the states, but its operation is not restricted to chancery cases,

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A cause which ls not likely to occupy a great portion of the time of the court, and which may be entered on the list of "short causes," upon the application of one of the parties, and will then be heard more speedily than it would be in its regular order. This practice obtains in the English chancery and in some of the American states.