| A | B |
|---|
| acquit | to find a ciminal defendant not guilty of the charges against him/her |
| adjudicate | to decide or settle something in a legal setting |
| adversary system | method used in the courts of the U.S. to settle legal disputes |
| affidavit | a voluntary statemetn or declaration of facts which has been written down and confirmed under oath |
| allegation | an assertion, declaratino or statement which is made in a pleading by one of the parties to the action and tells what that party intends to prove |
| appeal | leagl process used to ask a ghigher court to reveiw a decition |
| arraignment | criminal case proceeding in which the defendant is brought before the trial court to answer criminal charges by entering a plea of guilty or not guilty |
| bail | monetary sum which can be assessed by a judge to insure that a criminal defendant who is being released prior to trial will, in fact, appear in court on a trial date |
| bailiff | courtroom attendant responsible for keeping order in the courtroom and overseeing the jury |
| burden of proof | responsibility for affirmatively proving the disputed facts in a case |
| chambers | private office of the judge |
| closing argument | final statement given by an attorney for each party which summarizes each party's position on the guilt or innocence of the defendant |
| complaint | the first pleading in a civil case filed by the plaintiff. It alleges the material facts and legal theories to support the plaintiff's claim against the defendant |
| conviction | a finding by the judge or jury that a person charged with a ciminal offense is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing the crime charged |
| counsel | an attorney or lawyer. The giving of advise and guiadance concerning a legal matter |
| cross examination | the questioning of a witness by opposing counsel |
| damages | monetary, compensation claimed by a person who has suffered a loss or injury to his/her person, property or rights as a result of the negligence or unlawful conduct of another |
| default | failure of the defendant to file an answer or appear in a case within a certain period of time |
| defendant | the person or party accused of a crime or sued in a civil case who is standing trial |
| demurrer | a plea to dismiss a lawsuit on the grounds that although the opposition's statements may be true, they are insufficient to sustain the claim |
| direct examination | questioning of a withess by the party who calls the witness |
| due process of law | the regular course of administration through the courts of justice under the protection of the law and Constitution so that every person can have a fair and impartial trial or hearing |
| evidence | a fact presented in court through the testimony of a witness, an object or written document |
| exhibit | a document or object which is offered into evidence during a trial or hearing |
| Federal Rules of Evidence | a collection of principles that govern the admissibility of facts and testimony to establish or disprove an issue in civil and criminal lawsuits brought in U.S. courts |
| felony | a major crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year |
| indictment | a formal written accusation by a grand jury charging that a person or business committed a specfici crime |
| injunction | a writ or order by a court which requires a party to refrain from doing a particular thing or commanding that the party perform a particular act |
| judge | offical who directs the trial, decides what laws might apply to the case and rules on points of law |
| judgment | the official decision by a court regarding the rights and claims of the parties to a civil or criminal lawsuit |
| jurisdiction | the legal authority of a court to hear and decide cases; the exercie of judicial power within certain geographic boundaries |
| grand jury | a group of person who inquire into and investigate accusations in criminal cases, hears evidence and meets in secret to decide whether to issue indictments |
| jury (petit) | the group of persons called to decide the facts and render a verdict at the trial of a civil or criminal case |
| litigant | one of the parties involved in a legal action |
| litigation | the process of settling a dispute through the legal system |
| misdemeanor | a classification of offenses which are less serious than felonies. It is punishable by a fine or imprisonment other than a penitentiary for a period of less than a year |
| motion in limine | presented to the judge before the trial begins requesting the court to exclude or limit evidence at a trial |
| oath | a pledge, affirmation or declaration to provide tru information, administered by a public official |
| objection | a formal attestation of declaration of disapproval concerning a specific point of law or procedure during the course of a trial |
| opening statement | beginning speech given by an attorney for each party which previews what each attorney expects to happen in the trial |
| opinion | written statement issued to report the decision of an appellate court |
| plaintiff | in a civil action, the party who files the lawsuit |
| plea | response of a defendant to the criminal charges; it will usuallyb e "guilty" or "not guilty" |
| prosecution | in a criminal case, the State of Nebraska |
| recross | the additional questioning of a witness by the opposing party, that is performed after redirect |
| redirect | the additional questioning of a witness by the party who calls the witness and which is performed after teh cross-examination |
| sentence | punishment imposed by the court in accordance with the range outlined by statute |
| statute | law enacted by teh legislature |
| subpoena | legal document issued by the court to order a person to appear as specified and give testimony |
| summons | legal document issued by the court which directs the sheriff or another officer to notify the named defendant that a complaint has been filed and that he/she is required to appear and answer the complaint on or before the date and time specified |
| sustain | to grant, support or uphold. during a trial when an attorney objects to the inroduction of evidence and the judge agrees with the objection, the judge does this... |
| testimony | oral evidence statement made by a competent witness who has taken an oath to tell the truth which is used to establish some fact or set of facts |
| verdict | formal decision of the court |
