Who is a litigant?

A litigant is defined as an individual or entity that is involved in a lawsuit. This encompasses both plaintiffs, who initiate the lawsuit, and defendants, who respond to the claims made against them. The role of a litigant is integral to the legal process, as they are the parties that present their cases and interests before the court.

The other options describe different roles within the legal system but do not fit the definition of a litigant. For instance, a person representing the state in court would usually be a prosecutor or government attorney rather than a litigant in a traditional sense. Someone providing legal advice typically functions as a lawyer or legal advisor, which does not encompass being a litigant. Similarly, a person serving as a witness plays a critical role in providing testimony during a trial, but they are not a litigant themselves because they are not directly involved in the litigation as parties to the dispute. Hence, the correct answer highlights the essential characteristic of a litigant as someone who is directly engaged in a lawsuit.