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Writ of Habeas Corpus
| A court order to bring a prisoner before a judge to determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he or she should be released from custody. |
Reasonable Doubt
| In a criminal trial the prosecution has the burden of proof and must go beyond this legal standard for a judge or jury to find a defendant guilty. |
Plea Bargain
| In a criminal case, when the defendant pleads guilty in return for the prosecutor agreeing to drop certain charges or to recommend a reduced sentence. |
Misdemeanor
| A minor crime, such as shoplifting or vandalism, that is usually punishable by a fine or jail sentence of less than one year. |
Probable Cause
| A reasonable basis to believe a person or property is linked to a crime. |
Minority Rights
| These protect a group of people from discrimination and persecution by the rule of the majority while increasing the group's participation in political life. |
Original Jurisdiction
| The authority of a court to hold a trial first in certain kinds of cases. |
Plaintiff
| In civil law, the party who brings a lawsuit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court. |
Preponderance of Evidence
| The standard of proof in a civil case in which a judge or jury must believe the plaintiff's story and evidence is stronger than the defendant's version. |
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