Equitable in the United States

Equitable Definition in the context of the Federal Court System

Pertaining to civil suits in “equity” rather than in “law.” In English legal history, the courts of “law” could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See “damages.” A separate court of “equity” could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., “injunction.” In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one in certain respects. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in cases at “law” but not in “equity.”

Equitable Background