Sequestration is the process of temporarily removing property from its possessor under the process of law. The final decision is contingent on the outcome of a judicial dispute between multiple parties who claim ownership. As a form of judicially ordered seizure of goods, it can be used in a wide range of situations, from a bankrupt party to a person who acts in contempt of court.
Under Rule 64 of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, sequestration is one of the preliminary remedies available to secure satisfaction of the potential judgment.
In the context of trial, sequestration also refers to the isolation of jury members or witnesses during trial proceedings to preserve fairness and administer justice. Jury members may be put in hotels to avoid the influence of persons not present at trial. Likewise, witnesses may be isolated from each other to ensure that they only testify to what they personally observed.
In the context of national spending, sequestration refers to an across-the-board reduction in federal agency budgets, including both mandatory and discretionary spending programs. Reductions in these programs are triggered when no action was taken to meet the requirement of reducing federal deficit under the Budget Control Act of 2011. See also: 2 U.S. Code § 900 - Statement of budget enforcement through sequestration.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]