Law Final Vocabulary

Front 1

Cross Examination

Back 1

questioning of a witness during a trial or during the taking of a deposition, by the party opposed to the one who produced the witness

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Direct Examination

Back 2

questioning of a witness in trial or at the taking of a deposition, by the party for whom the witness is testifying

Front 3

Redirect Examination

Back 3

follows cross examination and is excorised by the party who first examined the witness

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Deposition

Back 4

testimony taken under oath and recorded in an authorized place outside the courtroom

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Appeal

Back 5

process by which a case is brought from one court to a higher court for review

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Exhibit

Back 6

the paper, document, or other physical object received by the court as evidence during a trial

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Hearsay

Back 7

evidence based on what a witness has heard someone else say rather than what the witness has personally experienced

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Inadmissible

Back 8

that which under the established rules of evidence, cannot be admitted or received in court

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Motions

Back 9

oral or written requests made by a party to an action and brought before a judge prior to, during, or after a trial

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Objection

Back 10

statement by an attorney in opposition to testimony or the attempted admission of evidence and opposing its consideration as evidence

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Overruled

Back 11

1) the court's denial of any motion or objection. 2)to overturn or void a decision in a prior case

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Reversal

Back 12

change in the lower court's decision

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Sustained

Back 13

when the court allows an objection to testimoy or evidence

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Testimony

Back 14

the sworn evidence presented by witnesses

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Evidence

Back 15

any form of proof presented by a party for the purpose of supporting its arguments before the court

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Allegation

Back 16

the assertion, declaration, or statement of a party to a cause made to the court in a pleading stating what that party expects to prove

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Appearance

Back 17

the formal proceeding by which a defendant submits to the jurisdiction of the court

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Cause

Back 18

a suit litigation, or action civil or criminal

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Complaint

Back 19

(civil) initial document filed by the plaintiff in a civil case stating the clims against the defendant (criminal) the formal accusation charging that a person has committed an offense. It is not evidence

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Charge

Back 20

formal accusation against an individual suspected of having committed a criminal offense. It is not evidence

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Damages

Back 21

compensation recovered in the courts by a person who has suffered loss, detriment, and/or injury to his person, property, or ights through the unlawful act or negligence of another

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Judgment

Back 22

a final determination by a court of the rights of the parties in action

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Parties

Back 23

persons, corporations, or associations who have brought a lawsuit or who are defendants

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Summons

Back 24

document served to be the defendant that complaint has been filed

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Verdict

Back 25

formal decision made by a jury, read before the court, and accepted by the judge

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Affidavit

Back 26

a written statement of fact, signed and sworn to before a person having authority to administer an oath

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Arraignment

Back 27

in criminal cases, a court hearing where the defendant is advised of the charges and is asked to plead guilty or not guilty

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Challenge for Cause

Back 28

excusing a juror from a trial for a stated, specific reason, such as the juror knows the parties or witnesses in a case. Each side has an unlimited number of challenges for cause

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Due Process

Back 29

the constitutional guarantee that an accused person receives a fair and impartial trial

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Indictment

Back 30

written accusation of a grand jury, charging that a person of business committed a crime

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Mistrial

Back 31

erroneous or invalid trial. Usually declared because of prejudicial eror in the proceedings. A hung jury, or when the proceedings must be interrupted

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Plea

Back 32

statment made by the defendant as to his/her guilt or innocence to the charge made against him/her

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Plea Bargain

Back 33

process by which the accused and the prosecutor negotiate a mutually satisfactory disposition of the case. Such bargains are not binding on the court

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Preponderance of Evidence

Back 34

a standard of judging evidence by which the judge or the jury determines whether an issue of fact is more probable than not probable

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Subpoena

Back 35

a document issued by the court to compel a witness to appear and give testimony or to procure documentary evidence in a proceeding

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Acquit

Back 36

to find a defendant not guilty in a criminal trial

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Answer

Back 37

a written statement by the defendant in a case, wherein the plaintiff's claims are admitted or denied

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Affirm

Back 38

the declaration of an Appellate court that the judgment of a lower court is correct and should stand

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Bail

Back 39

an amount of money determined by the judge and posted with the court as security to ensure the defendant's appearance in court at a specific time

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Burden of Proof

Back 40

obligation of a party to prove facts as issue in a trial of a case. In criminal cases, the state has the burden of proof

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Chambers

Back 41

a judge's private office

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Civil Case

Back 42

when one perosn, group of persons, or corporation sues another for personal injury, damages to property, or failure to complete a contract

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Common law

Back 43

the system of laws originally developed in England which based upon court decisions, customs, and usage, rather than a body of a written laws and statutes

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Motions

Back 44

oral or written requests made by a party to an action and brought before a judge prior to, during, or after a trial

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Continuance

Back 45

adjournment of the proceedings in a case from one day or term to another

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Discovery

Back 46

the pre-trial proceedings where a party to an action may be informed about (or "discover") the facts known by other parties or witnesses

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Habeas Corpus

Back 47

A writ of habeas corpus require a person to be brought before a judge. It is usually used to direct an official to produce a prisoner so that the court may determine if such a person has been denied liberty without due process

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Indigent

Back 48

meeting certain standards of poverty, qualifying a criminal defendant to a public defender

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Probable Cause

Back 49

committed is the basis for all lawful searches and arrests

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Statute

Back 50

the law as enacted by the legislature