legal-terms rules-of-court definition
What is a “submission”?
<p>It was used in a recent answer to mean “a legal argument”. Is it necessarily of this nature? Or is it broader (i.e. “anything one submits”)?</p>

<p><em>Submission</em> is a legal term of art in Commonwealth jurisdictions, which refers specifically to OED sense 2(b):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Something submitted for decision or consideration; a point of view, a theory of a case; a proposal, an application; <em>spec</em>. <strong>a proposition or argument submitted by counsel to a judge or jury</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Parties can <em>submit,</em> in the ordinary sense of the word, various documents for the court's consideration, including evidence. <em>Submissions,</em> however, are legal arguments, not evidence. Preparing submissions is part of advocacy and in jurisdictions with a split legal profession, specialised in by barristers.</p>
<p>This is the sense in which <a href="https://www.supremecourt.uk/docs/practice-direction-03.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Practice Direction 3</a> uses the word, to describe the written submissions to be filed in advance, and the oral submissions to be made at any hearing, as distinct from the various other documents a party must file to conduct a Supreme Court appeal.</p>

<p>It's broader, and means anything that is put to the court to consider.</p>
<p>See these examples of it's use in the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/759/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Criminal Procedure Rules 2020</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/759/rule/3.9?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rule 3.9</a> the submission of proposed questions</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/759/rule/13.7?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rule 13.7</a> written material that was submitted to the court</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/759/rule/45.6?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Rule 45.6</a> Where the application was under paragraph (4)(d), the Crown Court officer may—</p>
<ul>
<li><p>(a)submit it to the Crown Court; or</p>
</li>
<li><p>(b)serve it on the magistrates’ court officer, for submission to the magistrates’ court.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
