Fact-finding

Fact-finding hearing: A proceeding where facts relevant to deciding a controversy are determined.

This primitive form of fact-finding replaced even cruder methods — such as trial by battle, where the disputants fought savagely until one party begged for mercy or died, and the victorious party was presumed to have God and Right on his side.

INTERROGATORIES - Part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness provides written answers to written questions under oath. The answers often can be used as evidence in the trial.

DEPOSITION: Part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness testifies under oath. A deposition is held out of court with no judge present, but the answers often can be used as evidence in the trial.

Part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness provides written answers under oath. The answers often can be used as evidence in the trial.
Intervention: ...

Injunction - a court order preventing one or more specific parties from taking some action. A preliminary injunction often is issued to allow fact-finding so a judge can determine whether a permanent injunction is justified.

(v) Utter means oral representation of facts in front of an authority who can record the speech for verification. Such statements are made on fact-finding process
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Thus, in admitting expert opinion into evidence and giving it weight, the court (to that extent) delegates its fact-finding function to a witness.

See also: Finding, Law, Process, Party, Fact