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Legal Vocabulary

Terms

undefined, object
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AMICUS CURIAE
friend of the court
SUBPOENA
a legal order requiring a person to appear in court
CONTEMPT OF COURT
a criminal offense which involves a refusal to obey an order of the court
CROSS EXAMINATION
the questioning of witnesses by the opposing attorney
ACQUITAL
a release, absolution, or discharge from an obligation. Legal certification of the innocense of one charged with a crime.
AD DIEM
at the day
MENS REA
the state of one's mind at the time an action was taken
DOCKET
THE COURT'S SCHEDULE
AD HOC
for the special purpose
ADJOURNMENT
the dissolving of a session of court, dismissing its business from consideration
STARE DECISIS
the process of referring to precedents
COURT REPORTER
the person who records all testimony, word for word
TRANSCRIPT
a complete record of the trial
THE CHARGE
the judges instructions to the jury which summarize the major points of law raised by a case, and pinpoints the questions of fact to be decided
VERDICT
the decision of the jury
AJUDICATE
to settle a matter through the exercise of judicial authority
BRIEF
written arguments of a case
RECIDIVIST
a habitual criminal
A DIRECTED VERDICT
in situations where evidence is overwhelming against one side or the other, the judge may order a directed verdict, meaning that no other decision could be reasonably reached
SEGUESTER
a term which refers to locking up the jury in hotel rooms, or wherever, to assure strictest privacy during their deliberations
FOREMAN
the person who presides over the jury
MISTRIAL
refers to a decision by the judge if the jury cannot reach a verdict
ARREST WARRANT
a legal document whch describes the suspected criminal, the nature of the offense, and the madistrate before whom the individual is to be taken
INDICTMENT
a formal charge of a crime
BILL OF INDICTMENT
a document which summarizes the state's case against a defendant
SUBORN
to persude someone to commit perjury
SUBROGATION
the substitution of one person in the place of another with reference to a legal claim
TACIT LAW
law which derives its authority from the common consent of the people without any legislative enactment
TORT
a provate of civil wrong of njury, other than a breach of contract, for which the court will award damages
PRELIMINARY HEARING
used to establish a resonable probability of guilt
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
a law enforcement official who conducts the state's case during a trial
PLEA
a statement by the accused as to guilt or innocense
ARRAIGNMENT
the process whereby a defendant enters a plea
PUBLIC DEFENDER
a lawyer appointed by the court to represent those who cannot afford a lawyer
BAILIFF
the person who keeps order in the court
PLEA BARGAINING
an agreement between the prosecutor and defense attorney which involves a guilty plea to a lesser charge
PERJURY
lying under oath
SUMMATION
a final speech by the lawyers to the jury which tie together all the argume in the case
PETIT JURY
the group which weighs evidense and makes the final decision as to guilt or innocense. usually consists of twelve people.
GRAND JURY
six to twenty-three people who serve for one year
THEY DO FOUR THINGS...WHAT ARE THEY?
1.conduct investigations
2.hear witnesses
3.study evidence
4.issue bills of indictment where necessary

Deck Info

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