Relating to or denoting a legal system or proceeding in which the prosecutor actively accuses and must prove the accusation against the accused.
From accuse (Latin accusare, from ad- + causa 'cause') plus -orial. The suffix -orial creates adjectives describing a system or method.
The 'accusatorial' system (used in English and U.S. law) contrasts with the 'inquisitorial' system (used in France and many European countries)—the difference goes back to whether the judge or prosecutor drives the investigation.
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