Opinion ID: 2053975
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Historical Role

Text: Translated literally from Latin, amicus curiae means friend of the court. Courts have considered the desirability of hearing from an amicus curiae for hundreds of years. See The Protector v. Geering, 145 Eng.Rep. 394 (1686). Historically, participation as an amicus curiae has been granted upon a demonstration that such assistance is advisable to protect the court in the consideration of the case, i.e., for the honor of a court of justice to avoid error. Id. The history of Anglo-Saxon and American jurisprudence also reflects that the participation of an amicus curiae, was generally allowed for the purpose of ensuring a full and complete presentation on questions of either general or public interest which were at issue in the proceedings before the court. That historical role continues to be the primary function of an amicus curiae. It is now generally recognized that amicus curiae are called upon for the purpose of (1) assisting the court in a case of general public interest by providing adversarial presentations when neither side is represented, e.g., In re Opinion of the Justices, Del.Supr., 575 A.2d 1186 (1990); (2) assisting the court in a case of general public interest, by providing an adversarial presentation when only one point of view is represented, e.g., Red Dog v. State, Del.Supr., 625 A.2d 245 (1993); Matter of Butler, Del.Supr., 609 A.2d 1080 (1992); Appeal of Infotechnology, Inc., Del.Supr., 582 A.2d 215 (1990); Pollock v. Peterson, Del.Ch., 271 A.2d 45, 50 (1970); (3) assisting the court by supplementing the efforts of counsel, even when both sides are represented, in a case of general public interest, e.g., State v. Cohen, Del.Supr., 604 A.2d 846 (1992); Travelers Indem. Co. v. Lake, Del.Supr., 594 A.2d 38 (1991); and (4) drawing the court's attention to broader legal or policy implications that might otherwise escape its consideration in the narrow context of a specific case, e.g., Beattie v. Beattie, Del.Supr., 630 A.2d 1096 (1993) and Gannett Co., Inc. v. State, Del. Supr., 571 A.2d 735 (1989).