| A | B |
|---|
| Precedents | legal opinions made in prior cases that are used to make legal decisions by judges |
| felony | a serious crime |
| bail | a sum paid to a court to win release from jail while awaiting trial |
| grand jury | a group of citizens who decide whether there is enough evidence to formally charge a suspect with a crime |
| due process of law | requires the government to follow the law and treat all people equally |
| misdemeanor | a crime that holds less serious consequences than a felony |
| plea bargaining | a way to avoid a trial by pleading guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence |
| defendant | the individual or group accused of a crime |
| plaintiff | the party that brings charges against an alleged criminal or against another person who they believed has wronged them. |
| petit jury | The group of 12 citizens who decides guilt or innocence at a trial |
| cross examination | Point in the trial used to question a witness called by the other side with the goal of discrediting his/her testimony |
| crime | an act that breaks a federal or state criminal law and causes harm to people or society |
| acquittal | a vote of not guilty |
| mandatory sentencing | when judges must impose the sentence that the law directs |
| arraignment | procedure in which an accused person enters a plea or either guilty or not guilty and may accept a plea bargain |
| hung jury | When a jury that can not agree on a verdict and the judge declares a mistrial |
| direct evidence | when someone hears or sees evidence that directly helps prove guilt or innocence |
| hearsay | second hand statements; when a witness didn't directly hear or see something happen |
| baliff | court officer who swears in witnesses before they testify |
| the opinion | document that states the facts of the case, issue and the court's decision |
| dissenting opinion | document written by a judge who disagrees with the ruling |
| appellate court | court that reviews what the trial court has done and rules on matters of law; does not decide guilt or innocense |
| writ of certiori | order from the court stating it will hear a case |
| US Supreme Court | Highest court in the US |
| Superior Court | Level of the Maine court system that would hear your case if you wanted a jury trial |
| statute | law written by a legislature |
| adversarial system | US legal system; each side has a lawyer and there is an impartial judge |
| prosecutor | presents the government's case and decides to bring charges and what charges to bring |
| public defender | lawyer appointed by the state to take the case of defendants who can't afford one |
| bail | amount of money paid by a defendant to be released from jail will they are awaiting trial |
| acquittal | a vote of not guilty |
| hung jury | a jury that can't make a unanimous decision |
| arriagnment | step in the criminal case procedure in which the suspect enters his/her plea |
| subpoena | summons to court to be a witness |
| 14th amendment | promises "equal protection under the law" and denies the states the right to take away the rights promised int he US bill of rights |
| ex post facto law | law that punishes someone for committing an act before the law goes into effect |
| bill of attainder | act that imposes punishment on someone without a trial |
| writ of habeas corpus | a court order to hold someone in custody legally; if there isn't enough evidence, then the person should be set free |
