Legal Terms

Question 1

Defense Attorney

Answer 1

The Lawyer Representing The Defendant

Question 2

Prosecuting Attorney / Prosecutor

Answer 2

The Lawyer Trying To Convince The Jury That The Defendant Is Guilty

Question 3

Indictment

Answer 3

A Formal Charge Or Accusation Of A Serious Crime

Question 4

Plaintiff

Answer 4

The One Who Begins The Legal Action (The Accuser) And Seeks Solution In A Court Of Law.

Question 5

Trial Jury

Answer 5

A Group Of Citizens Chosen To Hear Evidence And Make A Decision Of Guilt Or Liability In A Court Of Law

Question 6

Verdict

Answer 6

A Decision Made By A Trial Jury (Guilty Or Not Guilty)

Question 7

Acquit

Answer 7

To Find Not Guilty Of A Fault Or Crime

Question 8

Convict

Answer 8

Judgment That Someone Is Guilty Of A Crime

Question 9

Aid And Abet

Answer 9

Help, Assist, Or Facilitate The Commission Of A Crime.

Question 10

Conspiracy

Answer 10

A Combination Of Two Or More Persons To Commit A Criminal Or Unlawful Act, Or To Commit A Lawful Act By Criminal Or Unlawful Means.

Question 11

Witness

Answer 11

A Person Interviewed By The Attorneys In A Trial That Have Knowledge Of The Subject.

Question 12

Testify

Answer 12

Give Evidence As A Witness In A Law Court.

Question 13

Expert Witness

Answer 13

A Witness With Professional Training Or Substantial Experience Qualifying Him/Her To Testify On A Certain Subject

Question 14

Cross Examination

Answer 14

Questioning Of A Witness Conducted By The Lawyer For The Opposing Side

Question 15

Objection

Answer 15

A Procedure Whereby An Attorney Asserts That A Particular Witness, A Line Of Questioning, Piece Of Evidence Or Other Matter Is Improper And Should Not Be Continued, And Asks The Court To Rule On Its Impropriety Or Illegality, The Lawyer Wants To Stop The Line Of Questioning.

Question 16

Sustain

Answer 16

A Judge’s Decision To Support Or Approve An Objection

Question 17

Overrule

Answer 17

A Judge’s Decision To Reject Or Disallow An Objection.

Question 18

Power Of Attorney

Answer 18

Grants Power To A Representative Of Your Choosing To Legally Act And Make Decisions On Your Behalf.

Question 19

Warrant

Answer 19

A Legal Paper, Issued By A Court, Giving Police Permission To Make An Arrest, Seizure, Or Search.

Question 20

Precedent

Answer 20

A Previously Decided Case Or Point That Is Recognized As The Authority In Future Cases

Question 21

Case Law

Answer 21

A Body Of Law Created By Judicial Decisions; Establishes Precedents For Courts

Question 22

Liability

Answer 22

Anything For Which A Person Is Legally Bound Or Responsible

Question 23

Damages

Answer 23

[In Civil Court] Compensation Awarded To A An Injured Party, Usually In The Form Of Money

Question 24

Defendant

Answer 24

An Individual Or Group Being Sued Or Charged With A Crime

Question 25

Plaintiff

Answer 25

One Who Begins A Civil Lawsuit

Question 26

Injunction

Answer 26

An Order Issued By A Court Of Equity Prohibiting A Person From Committing A Threatened At Or Continuing To Do Some Act That Is Injurious To The Plaintiff

Question 27

Due Process Of Law

Answer 27

Procedures Established By Law And Guaranteed By The Constitution The Right Of Every Citizen Against Arbitrary (Random & Unsystematic) Action By National Or State Governments

Question 28

Negligence

Answer 28

Failure To Exercise Ordinary Prudence/Foresight That Results In An Injury To Another

Question 29

Motion

Answer 29

Proposal Made During Trial To Change A Major Aspect Of The Trial Or Redress A Wrong. Can Be Oral Or Written.

Question 30

Petition

Answer 30

Proposal Made During Trial To Change A Major Aspect Of The Trial Or Redress A Wrong. Can Only Be In Writing.

Question 31

Remand

Answer 31

To Send Back; -1- The Act Of Sending An Accused Person Back Into Custody To Await Trial (Or The Continuation Of The Trial)-2- Following An Appellate Decision A Case May Be Sent Back To The Court From Which It Came

Question 32

Accessory

Answer 32

One Who Aids Or Contributes In A Secondary Way Or Assists In Or Contributes In Or Contributes To Crime.

Question 33

Leading Question

Answer 33

A Question Proposed By A Trial Lawyer That Is Ordinarily Improper On Direct Examination Because It Suggests To The Witness The Answer He Or She Is To Say, Or In Effect Prompts The Answer That Is To Be Given.

Question 34

Hearsay

Answer 34

Unverified, Unofficial Information Gained Or Acquired From Another And Not Part Of One's Direct Knowledge

Question 35

Contempt Of Court

Answer 35

Interfering With The Orderly Conduct Of Court Proceedings - For Example: Those Trying To Plead The 5th Will Be Held [In Jail] In Contempt Of Court If They Testify On Their Own Behalf But Then Refuse To Answer Questions On Cross Examination.

Question 36

Accused

Answer 36

The Person Against Whom A Criminal Proceeding Is Directed.

Question 37

Subpoena

Answer 37

A Court Order Requiring A Person To Appear In Court And Give Testimony

Question 38

Summons

Answer 38

An Order To Appear Before A Grand Jury

Question 39

Opening Statement

Answer 39

First Statement By Both Sides In A Trial Telling The Judge Or Jury The Issues Of The Case And What The Evidence Will Show

Question 40

Arraignment

Answer 40

First Appearance Of A Defendant Before A Judge During Which Time A Defendant Is Formally Presented With Charges And Is Asked To Enter A Plea

Question 41

Bail

Answer 41

A Sum Of Money Used As A Security Deposit To Ensure That An Accused Person Returns For His Or Her Trial

Question 42

Clerk

Answer 42

Officer Of The Court Who Keeps All Records

Question 43

Docket

Answer 43

A Court's Calendar, Showing The Schedule Of Cases It Is To Hear

Question 44

Grand Jury

Answer 44

A Group Of Citizens That Decides Whether There Is Sufficient Evidence To Accuse Someone Of A Crime (Issue An Indictment).

Question 45

Hung Jury

Answer 45

A Jury That Is Unable To Agree On A Verdict (The Result Is A Mistrial)

Question 46

Mistrial

Answer 46

A Trial Which Is Voided Because Of Some Error, Which Generally Results In A New Or Second Trial.

Question 47

Suppress Evidence

Answer 47

To Get Evidence Thrown Out - Make It Legally Unusable In Court

Question 48

Probable Cause

Answer 48

Reasonable Cause For Issuing A Search Warrant Or Making An Arrest; More Than Mere Suspicion

Question 49

Parole

Answer 49

To Grant A Prisoner An Early Release From Prison, With Certain Restrictions

Question 50

The Bar

Answer 50

The Members Of The Legal Profession.

Question 51

Alibi

Answer 51

Evidence That You Were Somewhere Else When A Crime Was Committed

Question 52

Witness

Answer 52

Someone Who Sees An Event And Reports / Testifies What Happened

Question 53

Plea

Answer 53

A Formal Statement By Or On Behalf Of A Defendant Or Prisoner, Stating Guilt Or Innocence In Response To A Charge

Question 54

Hearing

Answer 54

Presenting Evidence Before A Judge [Or Other Legal Officials] Without A Jury Present.

Question 55

Appeal

Answer 55

A Legal Proceeding In Which The A Person Who Disagrees With The Verdict Of His Or Her Case Resorts To A Higher Court For The Purpose Of Obtaining A Review Of A Lower Court Decision And A Reversal Of The Lower Court's Judgment Or The Granting Of A New Trial

Question 56

Burden Of Proof

Answer 56

The Duty To Prove An Allegation Or Accusation Of Guilt. A Person Is Considered Innocent Until Proven Guilty "Beyond A Reason Of Doubt."