In which type of court is the term "Petitioner v Respondent" typically used?

The term "Petitioner v Respondent" is typically used in the context of Equity courts. This terminology reflects the nature of litigation in these courts, where a petitioner seeks a remedy and the respondent is the party responding to that request. In Equity, cases often involve matters such as injunctions, specific performance, or other non-monetary remedies, and parties are identified as petitioners and respondents rather than plaintiffs and defendants, which is more common in common law and civil courts.

In criminal cases, the terminology used differs significantly, with the prosecution typically representing the state or government against an accused individual, using terms like "State v Defendant." In civil cases, the more conventional terminology would use "Plaintiff v Defendant," which is aligned with the idea of a legal dispute over rights or obligations rather than equitable relief. Common law courts tend to follow established legal principles and use standard terminology related to such doctrines. Thus, Equity courts are the proper context for the terminology "Petitioner v Respondent."