1.
admissible: Evidence allowed to be considered by the trier-of-fact.
2.
advisory committee: Committee that proposed first FRE.
3.
advisory notes: Comments accompanying the FRE proposals.
4.
circumstantial evidence: Evidence from which inferences can be drawn to prove a point.
5.
contempt of court: A finding by a judge that a person has disobeyed a court order, and is consequently subject to fine and imprisonment.
6.
demonstrative evidence: Exhibits that illustrate or demonstrate something, but are not the "real" thing.
7.
direct evidence: Evidence that directly proves a point.
8.
discovery: The process by which parties in a lawsuit obtain information and evidence from others, including their opponents.
9.
documentary evidence: Evidence in the form of documents.
10.
Excludable: Evidence that may not be presented to the trier-of-fact.
11.
exhibits: Physical items that are shown to the trier-of-fact.
12.
judicial notice: Facts the court admits are true without evidence, because they are common knowledge.
13.
jury instruction: Statement by the court to the jury instructing the jury on the law.
14.
leading question: A question that suggests an answer.
15.
limiting instruction: An instruction given by the judge to the jury to restrict their use of a specific item of evidence.
16.
memoranda: Brief legal essays that provide the court with facts, law, and argument as to why the legal point being argued should be decided in the favor of the party on whose behalf the memorandum is written.
17.
mitigate: Reduce or lessen.
18.
motions in limine: Motions made before trial on the admissibility or excludability of specific evidence.
19.
objection: In court, counsel objects to testimony believed to be inadmissible, and counsel states the basis for the objection.
20.
open-ended question: A question that does not suggest an answer or put words in the witness's mouth.
21.
proffered: Evidence tendered or offered.
22.
stipulated: Facts that are agreed to.
23.
Suppress: Keep out of court.
24.
tangible: Something physically material, i.e., something you can touch.
25.
testimony: The statements of a witness made under oath in court, or in a deposition.
26.
trier-of-fact: Person who determines the facts in a legal proceeding also known as the factfinder.
