Law Vocabulary

A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.

A

A description of evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases.

A

A written or printed statement made under oath.

A

The status of a decision that has been appealed and found to be correct as rendered by the lower court.

A

The party who appeals a district court's decision, usually seeking reversal of that decision.

A

Property of all kinds, including real and personal, tangible and intangible.

A

The release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under specified conditions designed to assure that person's appearance in court when required. Also, can refer to the amount of bond money posted as a financial condition of pretrial release.

B

A legal procedure for dealing with debt problems of individuals and businesses; specifically, a case filed under one of the chapters of title 11 of the United States Code.

B

A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate proceeding that explains one side's legal and factual arguments.

B

The offices of a judge and his or her staff.

C

A creditor's assertion of a right to payment from a debtor or the debtor's property.

C

A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims against the defendant.

C

Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won. May be compensatory (for loss or injury) or punitive (to punish and deter future misconduct).

D

An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.

D

An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.

D

Procedures used to obtain disclosure of evidence before trial.

D

A log containing the complete history of each case in the form of brief chronological entries summarizing the court proceedings.

D

A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty which resulted in harm to the plaintiff.

L

A judge's written explanation of the decision of the court.

O

In a criminal case, the defendant's statement claiming "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges.

P

The setting aside of the decision of a lower court.

R

A command, issued under a court's authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony.

S

A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial, or during some other formal conversation, such as a hearing or oral deposition.

T

The geographic area in which a court has jurisdiction.

V

A person called upon by either side in a lawsuit to give testimony before the court or jury.

W