| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Mitigating Circumstances | Considerations or facts which makes something less serious. |
| Motion | A request asking the court to do something. |
| Nolo Contendere | A plea by a defendant which means "I will not contest it." |
| Objection | The act of taking exception to a statement or procedure of the court. |
| Overruled | Ruled against. |
| Pardon | To forgive all or part of a prisoners sentence. |
| Parole | To release a prisoner early but maintain certain supervision. |
| Perjury | Lying under oath. |
| Peremptory Challenge | Removing a prescriptive juror without having to give a reason. |
| Plaintiff | The party bringing the action in a civil case. |
| Plea Barganing | Pleading guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a trial. |
| Preliminary Hearing | A hearing held before the trial to make motions and to partially decide if a trial should be held. |
| Preponderance of evidence | Evidence which is more credible and convincing to the mind. (greater weight of evidence) |
| Probable Cause | A reasonable belief that a crime has been committed. |
| Capital Punishment | The death penalty. |
| Corporal Punishment | Physical punishment. (Beatings or whippings) |
| Counsel | An Attorney. |
| First Degree Murder | Premeditated, intentional killing. |
| Immunity | Freedom from prosection. |
| Injunction | A court order to permanently stop doing something. |
| Plea | The accused's answer to a formal change. (guilty, not guilty) |
| Precedent | A court's decision can be used as an example in dealing with a similar case in the future. |
| Slander | Damaging a person's character by speaking lies. |
| Subpoena | A court order directing someone to produce either themselves or their records in court. |
| Intermittent Imprisonment | A sentence where the offender will spend weekdays at a regular job and weekdays in jail. |
| Appellate Court | A court which only has jurisdiction over appeals cases. |
| Prison | A facility operated by the state or federal government which incarcerates felons for sentences of one year or more. |
| Jail | A facility operated by the state or federal government which incarcerates inmates for one year or less. |
| Law | A rule of conduct. |
| Probate court | A court which has jurisdiction over will and the estates of the deceased. |
| Probation | Supervision with certain conditions decided by the court. |
| Proceedings | Actions. Going on of the court. |
| Prosecute | To bring legal proceedings against a person. |
| Released on your own recognizance | Letting a defendant go free before the trial with no bail or bond. |
| Restitution | Repaying or compensating someone you have wronged. |
| Robbery | Taking something from someone using force or intimidation. |
| Definite Sentence | A jail sentence that has a fixed amount of time. |
| Sustained | Upheld or supported. |
| Theft | The act of stealing. |
| To Traffic | To trade or carry on business in. |
| Trial | The examination hearing of evidence before a court to decide the issue of specified charges or claims |
| Verdict | The decision of the court. (judge or jury) |
| Witness | One who gives evidence of facts before a court and who attests to their truthfulness under oath. |
Combine with other sets
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