In English law. A person appointed by a court to take the examination ofwitnesses in an action, i. e., to take down the result of their interrogation by the partiesor their counsel, either by written Interrogatories or vivd voce. An examiner is generallyappointed where a witness is in a foreign country, or is too ill or infirm to attend beforethe court, and is either an officer of the court, or a person specially appointed for thepurpose. Sweet.In New Jersey. An examiner is an officer appointed by the court of chancery to taketestimony in causes depending in that court His powers are similar to those of the Englishexaminer in chancery.In the patent-office. An officer in the patent-office charged with the duty of examiningthe patentability of inventions for which patents are asked.