To sequester means to separate or isolate a person or property under legal authority. In courtroom use, the term often refers to keeping jurors or witnesses apart from outside influences or from each other in order to protect fairness.

The same word can also refer to legal seizure or temporary control of property in some procedural contexts, so its precise meaning depends on how it is being used.

Sequester Explained

Cornell Wex explains that sequestration can refer to temporarily removing property from its possessor under legal process, and also to the isolation of jurors or witnesses during trial proceedings to preserve fairness. The Ninth Circuit glossary gives the common trial-related meaning by defining sequester as separating juries from outside influences during deliberations.

The Term Sequester in Different Legal Contexts

In trial practice, sequestration may be used to shield jurors from media attention or outside pressure, or to keep witnesses from tailoring testimony after hearing others speak. In property-related procedure, sequestration can describe court-ordered control over assets while a dispute is pending.

Because the trial-related meaning is more common in modern courtroom vocabulary, lawyers often use sequester to refer to isolation of people rather than seizure of property unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Common Misconceptions About the Meaning of Sequester

A common misconception is that sequester only applies to juries. Witnesses and, in some legal settings, property may also be sequestered depending on the purpose and the governing rules.

Another misconception is that sequestration always lasts for an entire trial. In practice, the scope and duration can vary depending on the court’s order and the reason for separation.