What is “Hometowned”?

Hometowned

“Hometowned” is a slang term in legal circles, meaning a lawyer or client is discriminated against by a local judge who favors local parties and attorneys over those from out of town, essentially experiencing a “home court advantage”. 

Here’s a more detailed explanation: 

  • Meaning:
    “Hometowned” describes a situation where a judge, due to their local connections or biases, seems to favor local lawyers or clients over those who are from out of town.
  • Context:
    This term is often used in legal settings to describe situations where a judge’s bias may be influenced by their personal connections to the local community.
  • Examples:
    • A local lawyer might feel they are being treated unfairly by a judge who seems to give more leeway to local attorneys.
    • An out-of-town defendant and their lawyer might feel that they are being treated unfairly due to their lack of local connections.

  • Other terms:
    “Hometowned” is also sometimes referred to as a “home advantage,” “home field advantage,” or “home court advantage”.