Discovery.

Discovery. The English common law did not permit a party to an action to be a witness; but a court of equity would compel him to discover or disclose facts which his opponent had a right to know. Parties may now give evidence; but discovery is granted before trial, in any division of the High Court, of such facts or documents as a party requires in order to frame his own case. But a party is not permitted, by means of discovery, to obtain a premature disclosure of the case of his opponent. In the United States, the rules of practice are substantially the same as those of the English courts.