The court has nothing to do with what is not before it.

Explanation

A court confines itself to the matter properly before it and will not decide issues that have not been raised or presented by the parties.

Where this applies

• A judge refuses to rule on a zoning dispute that neither party raised in their pleadings, because the court deals only with what is properly before it.
• During a breach-of-contract trial, the judge declines to address a separate personal-injury claim that was never filed, because it is not part of the case.
• An appellate court refuses to consider an argument the losing party never raised at trial, because the issue was not before the lower court.