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128 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 acquittal | court decision that a defendant was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt |
| allegation | statement of the accusation to be resolved in court |
| appeal | a request by defense for the review of the court's decision |
| arraignment | the process during which a person accused of a crime is brought to court, told the charges, and asked to make a plea of guilt or innocence |
| arrest | the taking into custody of a person who may hace committed a crime |
| arson | the willing and illegal burning of a piece of real property |
| assault | a violent physical or verbal strike or threat |
| attorney-at-law | a person who is legally qualified to prosecute and/or defend a person in court; a lawyer |
| bail | security given in exchange for the temporary release of a prisoner |
| bailiff | an officer of the court, serving as a messenger and/or usher; officer who usually gives the oath and provides security |
| battery | unlawful application of force; the least touching of another person willfully or in anger (act of beating or using physical force on another person) |
| bench | the place where the judge in a trial sits; the court |
| bias | an act or policy resulting from prejudice |
| breach | a breaking of the law |
| breaking and entering | the unlawful entry into the property of another |
| bribery | offering something of vaule in exchange for an illegal decision or personal gain |
| burden of proof | the amount of information necessary to convince a judge or jury that one side or the other's version of the facts is true. In a civil trial, the plaintiff must convince that overall the evidence is in his/her favor. In a criminal trial, the prosecution must convince the judge or jury of the defendant's guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt." |
| burglary | theft committed as a result of illegal entry |
| capital offense | a crime that is punishable by death |
| charge | the crime for which one is accused or indicted |
| child abuse | physical or emotional mistreatment of a minor |
| civil law | formal rules of a society dealing with personal rights |
| closing argument | summary speech made by each side after all evidence has been presented; the review of testimony and evidence explaining why each side believes it should win |
| computer crime | criminal activity related to the computer, including illegal trepass, theft of data or sabotage of equipment |
| conspiracy | acting with others in an unlawful transaction |
| contract | agreement between or among parties that is binding under law |
| contributing to the delinquency of a minor | to act as a factor in the unlawful behavior of a person under the age of 18 |
| conviction | to have been found quilty of a crime |
| court | the branch of government responsible for resolving disputes |
| court clerk | an officer who keeps records, enters judgments, etc. |
| court reporter | a person who manually records on a high-speed keyboard, word for word, all that occurs in a court proceeding |
| crime | an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden by a public law or failure to do what the law requires |
| criminal | a person who has been found guilty of committing a crime |
| criminal law | formal rules of a society dealing with offenses against the society |
| cross-examination | the act or process of asking a series of questions designed to verify or discredit answers to questions previously asked |
| decision | determination made after consideration of relevant data |
| defamation of character | the act of harming someone's reputation by publically making or publishing an unjust statement |
| defendant | a person accused of violating a criminal or civil law |
| defense | collected persons, facts and methods used by a defendant to protect against a prosecutor's or plaintiff's action |
| deliberation | discussion/consideration by a group or individual ofdeny information available to support a decision |
| deny | to turn down |
| direct examination | the initial questioning of a withness by the side that called him or her |
| dismiss | to remove a case out of the court |
| disturbance of the peace | any act or conduct that causes unrest, fear, or upset to the community |
| double jeopardy | to be tried for the same offense a second time |
| drug crime | any unlawful act related to drugs |
| due process | a constitutional guarantee that all legal proceedings will be fair and timely |
| evidence | something that furnishes support for either side in a trial |
| examination | the act of closely questioning the relevance of evidence or testimony to a trial |
| extortion | illegal taking of money by anyone who uses threats or fear or coercion in order to obtain money, but not threat to personal safety required for robbery |
| felony | crime for which possible punishment may range from imprisonment for a year or more to execution |
| foreperson | a person who serves as the spokesperson/leader of the jury |
| forgery | making or altering writing with the intent to falsify |
| fraud | intentional deception resulting in the financial harm to another |
| government | official organization which has the authority to create and enforce laws |
| grand jury | a group of citizens chosen to review evidence and possible testimony to determine if the courts should proceed to accuse, or indict, a person or persons for a crime |
| grand theft | larceny of property having a value greater than some amount (vaires) |
| guilty | determination by judge or jury that a defendant did commit the crime for which he/she was accused |
| harassment | unnecessary malicious or discriminatory actions |
| hate crime | crime against a social, ethnic or religious group |
| homicide | the killing of one person by another person |
| identity theft | the taking of another person's personal information without the other person's authorization or consent and the fraudulent use of that information |
| impartial | not favoring one side of the other |
| incarceration | confinement in a jail or prison or penitentiary |
| indictment | action placing formal accustion on a person for an offense |
| innocent | not guilty |
| intent | the state of mind with which an illegal act was done |
| involuntary | the unplanned criminally negligent killing of one person by another person |
| jail | place used to detain a person in the lawful custody of the government |
| judge | a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of law |
| juror | person selected to serve on a jury |
| jury | group of persons who have been selected to deduce the guilt or innocence or liability of the accused |
| juvenile delinquent | a minor who has broken the law |
| kidnapping | unlawful taking and holding of a person against his/her will |
| larceny | unlawful taking of something from its rightful owner |
| law | custom or practice of the community or society that has been formall adopted and is to be enforced by person(s) of authority |
| lawyer | a trained and certified law professional who can advise and represent a client or government in legal matters |
| legal | acceptable under the laws of a society |
| liability | something for which one is responsible |
| libel | unjust or untrue statement marring another's reputation |
| malice | intentional commitment of a wrongful act without excuse or justification |
| manslaughter | unlawful killing of a person without having intended to do so |
| Miranda rule | requirement that a person being indicted or accused of a crime be informed of his/her privilege against self-incrimination and the right to an attorney before an interrogation by law enforcement personnel takes place |
| misappropriation of funds | the use of money for a purpose other than that for which it was intended or legally required to be used |
| misdemeanor | a crime less serious than a felony; a crime that has a mazimum possible sentence of less than one year imprisonment |
| mistrial | legal proceeding for which there is no outcome due to error(s) in process or procedure |
| motive | reason(s) for acting |
| murder | the killing of another person (First-degree murder is killing that is willful, deliberate, and premeditated. Second-degree murder is killing with malice but without deliberation or premeditation) |
| negligence | failure to pay reasonable attention as described by the law |
| oath | sworn pledge to tell the truth |
| objection | reason or argument presented to oppose some information or question being presented by the opposition |
| opening statement | staement made by each side at the beginning of a trial to outline its position and preview the evidence it will introduce so the jury will know what it will hear and why |
| opportunity | chance or opening in one's favor |
| ordinance | a local law that applies to people and things in the local jurisdiction |
| overrule | to rule against an objection in a trial |
| perjury | the making of false statements under oath |
| plaintiff | one who begins a civil suit to remedy an injury to his/her rights;the complaining party in a civil litigation |
| plea | the accused person's response to a criminal charge |
| police | the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order and safety and enforcing the law |
| prison | place for the confinement of a person in lawful detention |
| prosecution | the side in a criminal trial whose task is to prove that the accused is, in fact, guilty of the crime for which he/she has been charged |
| questioning | asking a witness or other participant in a trial for information related to the trial |
| reasonable doubt | uncertainty as to the absolute guilt of the accused |
| reckless | careless and inattentive; behavior marked by lack of consideration for the outcome or consequences |
| redirect | questioning of a withness by the party who first called the witness after that witness has been crossed-examined |
| rest | to bring to an end the introduction of witnesses or evidence in a trial |
| robbery | the unlawful taking of something from its rightful owner using real or implied threat or violence |
| sentencing | punishment to be inflicted by the court for a person found guilty |
| settlement | an agreement ending conflict between or among person(s) in a trial |
| shoplifting | the stealing of merchandise from a store that is open for business |
| slander | to intentionally harm someone's reputation |
| stalk | to pursue a person by tracking stealthily |
| statute | a law formally enacted by the legislative branch of a government |
| subpoena | a written order issued by the court to compel the appearance of a witness |
| sue | to institute legal proceedings for restitution for some sort of damages |
| summons | a written mandate requiring a defendant to appear in court |
| sustain | to allow or admit an objection as valid in court |
| testimony | declaration made by a witness under oath in response to questioning by a lawyer or authorized public official |
| theft | the act of stealing; larceny |
| tort | a private or civil wrong or injury done willfully or negligently, but not involving breach of contract |
| trespassing | the unlawful entrance onto another's property |
| trial | the formal court proceeding to determine the level of responsibility of the defendant and/or that person's guilt or innocence or liability |
| try | to put an accused person on trial |
| vandalism | the willful and intentionally harmful destruction of property belonging to another |
| verdict | the decision of the judge ot jury concerning the trial |
| voir dire | the examination by both sides before a trial begins intended to determine a witness's or juror's ability to serve impartially |
| warrant | a written order authorizing a search, seizure, or arrest; to make a judgment as a result of reasonable suspicion |
| witness | one who testifies to support the case of one side or the other in a trial |
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