join issue

Of two people, to argue with one another.

Verb

  1. Of two people, to argue with one another.
  2. Of two parties to a legal proceeding, to agree to argue about a particular legal claim.
    • [W]ith Rejoinders and Replies, / Long Bills, and Anſvvers, ſtuft vvith Lies, / Demurr, Imparlance, and Eſſoign, / The Parties ne'er could Iſſue join: / For Sixteen Years the Cauſe vvas ſpun, / And then ſtood vvhere it...
    • In one sense, the Court’s decision to pass over this complication may be understandable. After all, none of the parties before us questioned the application of a discovery rule in proceedings below, but joined issue...

Forms

joins issue joining issue joined issue