In legal proceedings, what does the term 'prima facie' refer to?

The term 'prima facie' refers to something that is presumed to be true unless disproven. In the context of legal proceedings, it signifies that there is sufficient evidence to support a case at first glance, establishing a basis for further examination. When a party presents prima facie evidence, it means they have met the initial burden of proof required to present their case.

This concept is critical because it allows a case to proceed, as it indicates that there are adequate grounds for considering the presented evidence seriously. If the evidence is strong enough to make a case viable at this initial stage, it may compel the opposing party to respond or provide counter-evidence.

In terms of context, while terms like assumed evidence, presumed innocence, and established fact can hold individual relevance in legal discussions, they do not accurately capture the procedural implications of 'prima facie' in the way that initial evidence does. Initial evidence directly relates to the idea of meeting the first requirement to establish a legal argument.