Stay of proceedings
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In civil procedure and criminal procedure, a stay of proceedings is a ruling by the court halting further legal process in a trial. The court can subsequently lift the stay and resume proceedings. However, a stay is sometimes used as a device to postpone proceedings indefinitely.
[edit] UK
In UK civil procedure, stay of proceedings is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules 1998. In criminal trials, it is governed by the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.