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| A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction. |
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| A written or printed statement made under oath. |
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| A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was correct |
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| A proceeding in which a criminal defendant is brought into court, told of the charges in an indictment or information, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty. |
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| a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, who keeps order |
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| A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate proceeding that explains one side's legal and factual arguments. |
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| A crime punishable by death. |
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| deals with disputes between two or more parties with money at stake |
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| violation of state laws (murder, theft, robbery) |
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| The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States, which relies on the articulation of legal principles in a historical succession of judicial decisions. Common law principles can be changed by legislation. |
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| A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant. |
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| Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case. |
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| Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. Judges sometimes use "court" to refer to themselves in the third person, |
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| Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won |
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| In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. |
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| An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial. |
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| In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial. In civil law, the legal rights of someone who confronts an adverse action threatening liberty or property. |
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| Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case in favor of one side or the other. |
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| A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison. |
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| A body of 16-23 citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which is presented by the prosecutors, and determine whether there is probable cause to believe an individual committed an offense |
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| The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies |
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| An official of the Judicial branch with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts. Used generically, the term judge may also refer to all judicial officers, including Supreme Court justices. |
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| The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a certain type of case. It also is used as a synonym for venue, meaning the geographic area over which the court has territorial jurisdiction to decide cases. |
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| The group of persons selected to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on matters of fact |
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| A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty which resulted in harm to the plaintiff |
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| A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants. |
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| An offense punishable by one year of imprisonment or less |
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| A judge's written explanation of the decision of the court |
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| A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of at least six persons. |
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| The document that initiates the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding, setting forth basic information regarding the debtor, including name, address, chapter under which the case is filed, and estimated amount of assets and liabilities. |
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| A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court. |
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| In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges. See also nolo contendere. |
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| A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court. |
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| To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government. |
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| The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime. |
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| A law passed by a legislature. |
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| A command, issued under a court's authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony. |
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| Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries. |
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| A civil, not criminal, wrong. A negligent or intentional injury against a person or property, with the exception of breach of contract. |
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| Court authorization, most often for law enforcement officers, to conduct a search or make an arrest. |
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