Question | Answer |
defendant | accused in a criminal case; the person from whom $ or other recovery is sought in a civil case |
defense attorney | the lawyer who represents the accused person |
deliberation | the jury's decision-making process after hearing the evidence, closing arguments, and instruction to the jury |
delinquency | the commission of an illegal act by a juvenile |
deposition | the testimony of a witness taken under oath outside of court |
detain | stopping a person briefly to inquire, question, or conduct a reasonable investigation |
direct examination | the questioning of a witness by the attorney for the party on whose behalf the witness is called |
discovery | the process by which parties to an action are allowed to gain relevant information known to the toher party prior to the trial |
diversion | a process for handling a insignificant juvenile violation informally. Continuance of a case for a period of time and dimissal of it if conditions are met |
due process | the method for determining whether a person is guilty, incorporating rules which protect an individual's rights |
en banc | a full court. Many appellate courts sit in part or as a committee rather than using the full contingent of judges that are on the court |
evidence | present in court to prove or disprove an allegation |
exclusionary rule | evidence which was obtained illegally and cannot be used in a criminal trial against a defendant |
exclusive jurisdiction | the matter can only be filed in one court |
exhibit | objects presented in court to prove the facts of a case |
extradition | the surrender of an accused or fugitive from one jurisdiction to another |
fine | a sum of money paid as part of a penalty or conviction for a particular offense |
grand jury | 12 - 23 citizens who hear evidence to decide whether a defendant should be held for a felony trial |
guilty | convicted of an offense/culpable |
habeas corpus | a court order to have a prisoner released if he is being held illegally |
hearsay | second-hand evidence |
hung jury | a jury unable to reach a verdict as required by law |
incarceration | confinement in a jail or prison |
incriminate | to imply the guilt of an individual |
indictment | an accusation made by a grand jury that the accused has violated a law |
information (complaint) | a document charging an individual with the commission of a crime |
irrelevant | evidence not sufficiently related to the matter at issue |
judge | a person appointed to hear and decide questions of law in court cases and to make certain that fair procedures are used |
judgment | the official decision of a court |
jurisdiction | the legal authority of a court to hear a case or condcut other proceedings |
jury | a group of qualified people who hear the evidence in a trial and give a verdict |
jury trial | a trial in which a group of citizens listens to the evidence presented in a court and gives its verdict |
liability | a legal responsibility, obligation, or debt |
mens rea | a guilty mind, the intent required to commit the crime |
mistrial | a trial which is void due to an error |
motion | a request presented to the court in legal form |
negligence | failure to exercise the care that a responsible person would |
nolo contendere | a plea in a criminal case which is similar to a guilty plea, except the defendant does not admit having committed the crime |
oath | the swearing before the court that you will tell the truth or decide the case fairly |
original jurisdiction | the court in which a matter must first be filed |
objection | a party claim that the witness, the question, evidence, etc. is improper and should not be allowed |