Term | Definition |
affidavit | a written statement sworn to before a person officially permitted by law to administer an oath |
arraignment | a pre-trial legal proceeding in which the accused is informed of the charges made against him, and enters a plea of guilty or not guilty |
autopsy | the medical examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death; this evidence is called "autoptic evidence" |
bail | the security or money that is paid by an accused for his release to ensure his reappearance in court |
booking | the process of fingerprinting, photographing, and recording the arrest of a person by the police |
charge to the jury | the advice or instruction that a judge gives to a jury on the law appropriate to the case under consideration |
closing statement | a speech made by a lawyer in which an attempt is made to summarize the case as presented |
criminal charge | the crime that an accused person is said to have committed |
cross examination | the questioning of a witness by an attorney of the opposite side during a legal proceeding abd after direct examination |
defendant | an accused person in a criminal case or the person from whom damages are sought to in civil action |
direct examination | the questioning of a witness for the first time by a lawyer |
evidence | any information including testimony, documents, or physical objects that a court allows a lawyer to introduce during a trial in order to influence the court and/or the jury |
homocide | the killing of another human being, although not necessarily a crime |
intoxication | the state or condition of a person who is legally considered to be "under the influence" of alcohol, where judgement is seriously affected, coordination impaired, and the percentage of blood alcohol is .10 or more |
objection | a point of order raised by a lawyer to the attempted introduction of evidence by the other side |
objection overruled | the words used by a judge when he disagrees with a lawyer who raised an objection (he may say this when he decides to allow a witness to answer particular question to be asked of him) |
objection sustained | the words used by the judge when he agrees with the lawyer who raised an objection (he may say this when he decides not to allow a witness to answer a particular question to be asked of him) |
opening statement | a speech made by a lawyer to a jury or judge in order to give an explanation of his view of the case |
perjury | the willful giving of false testimony under oath |
probable cause | reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed justifying the action of the police in searching or arresting a suspect |
reasonable doubt | a term used to describe the kind and amount of uncertainty that a reasonable person might have in reaching a conclusion in ordinary matters; the reasonable doubt in the mind of a juror could justify an acquittal |
second degree manslaughter | the non-intentional killing of another human as a result of a very careless or illegal act; the causing of death of another person by culpable negligence whereby unreasonable risk is created |
subpoena | a court order requiring a person named in it to attend court in a case, under penalty for not doing so |
testimony | an oral statement of evidence given by a witness, while under oath, during a court proceeding |
verdict | the formal decision made by a jury at a trial |