| A | B |
|---|
| jurisprudence | a word we still use to mean the study of the law |
| stare decisis | the Latin word for "let the decision stand." |
| writ of habeas corpus | court order that guarantees the right to appear before a judge in a court of law |
| bill of attainder | a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court |
| ex post facto law | a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed |
| grand jury | a group of citizens that hears evidence a prosecutor presents; decides if there is enough evidence to indicate that a crime has been committed |
| contempt of court | the judge believes the person is obstructing or interfering with the judicial process |
| bench trial | being tried only by a judge instead of a jury trial |
| petit juries | juries that hear trials; also called trial juries |
| self-incrimination | answering questions or giving information that shows a persons involvement in a crime |
| Gideon vs. Wainwright | ruled that states had to provide attorneys to people who were too poor to afford their own |
| double jeopardy | a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime |
| civil law | concerned with disputes between people or between the government and its citizens |
| lawsuit | a legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done |
| defendant | the party being sued |
| contract | an agreement between two or more parties |
| plaintiff | the party who files the lawsuit |
| constitutional law | laws found in the United States Constitution |
| administrative law | all the rules and regulations that the executive branch of government must make to carry out its job |
| international law | laws that affect the United States and other nations |
| complaint | a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought |
| suit of equity | lawsuit that seeks fair treatment in a situation where there is no existing law to help decide the matter |
| injunction | a court order commanding a person or group to stop a certain action |
| fraud | taking property by dishonest means or misrepresentation |
| larceny | taking of property unlawfully |
| mandatory sentence | a judge must impose whatever sentence the law directs |
| penal code | the name for a state's criminal laws |
| vandalism | deliberate destruction of property |
| summons | directing someone to appear in court for a hearing on the charge |
| arraignment | a hearing where the suspect pleads guilty or innocent to the charges |
