EXAMINER

In English law. A person appointed by a court to take the exam i· nation of witne es in an action, i. e., to take down the result of their interrogation by the G parties or their counsel, either by written in• terrogatories or viva voce. An examiner is generally appointed where a witne is in a foreign country, or is too ill or infirm to attend before the court, and is either an officer H of the court, or a person specially appointed for the purpose. Sweet. In New Jersey. An examiner ls an officer appointed by the court of chancery to take testimony in causes depending in that court. I ~ls powers are similar to those of the English examiner. in chancery. In the patent-office. An officer in the patent-office charged with the duty of exam• ining the patentability of inventions for which patents are asked. J -Examiner in chancery, An officer of the court of chancery, before whom witne es are examined, and their testimony reduced to writ~ ing, for the purpose of being read on the hearing of the cause. Cowell.-Exa.miners. Persons appointed to question students of law in K order to ascertain their qualifications before they are admitted to practice.-Special exam.iner. In English law. Some person, not one of the examiners of the court of chancery, appointed to take.evidence in a particular suit. This may be done when the state of busine t· in the examiner's office is such that it is im· po ible to obtain an appointment at a con• veniently early day, or when the witne es ma_y be unable to come to London. Hunt. Eq. pt. I. c.5,12. [s. 461]