What is the definition of ex parte communication in legal terms?

Ex parte communication refers to interactions or discussions that occur between a judge or an official and one party involved in a legal matter without the other parties present. This type of communication is significant because it can raise ethical concerns about fairness and impartiality in the legal process. In most legal contexts, ex parte communications are discouraged or restricted to protect the rights of all parties involved.

The remaining choices do not correctly capture the essence of ex parte communication. For example, communication that happens after a trial does not involve the critical element of one-sided interaction in the context of ongoing legal matters. Similarly, communication during a plea agreement discussion can involve multiple parties and is typically conducted in a transparent manner to ensure fairness, thus not fitting the definition of ex parte. Lastly, communication allowed with all parties present is the opposite of what ex parte signifies, as it involves inclusivity rather than exclusivity in discussions with parties involved in a case.