Latin term widely used by lawyers to denote a legal procedure or proceeding, at which one of the parties to the case is absent, usually an interested party. In general, in most legal systems, ex parte proceedings in litigation are regarded as anathema and they are only allowed under certain specific circumstances. It is usually required that all ex parte communications with a judge, magistrate, or arbitrator be recorded and the recording or transcript made available to the party not present at the earliest opportunity. Contrast with Inter Partes.