Legal Terminology

All terms here are taken from a variety of legal dictionaries

affidavit - a sworn, written statement appeal- petitioning a higher court to review a case to reverse errors made at trial arraignment- bringing a defendant before a judge to allow him or her to hear the charges that were filed and make a plea. arrest- the official detention of a person for a criminal trial bail - money or property temporarily surrendered to the government by a defendent who will be released until trial to ensure that he or she will not flee the jurisdiction. It is returned to the defendent upon the trial's conclusion. Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; they secure several of the most important rights of American citizens. book - to formal, clerical aspect of an arrest. During "booking", several forms are filled out containing the defendent's personal information and a description of the possessions he or she was carrying at the time of arrest. certiorari - petitioning the Supreme Court to hear an appeal case law law established by previous decisions appellate courts. Chamber a judges office. charge- an accusation of guilt; usually the first step in a criminal prosecution Constitution- the document that defines the United States government. It also sets forth certain inalienable rights of American citizens. The Constitution delimits the specific powers of each branch of the federal government, and sets forth their duties. Convict to declare that someone is guilty of a crime. Counsel a legal advisor, the term used for lawyers in a case. cross examination - the period of questioning in a trial when the lawyers of one side interrogate a witness from the opposing side 1

 crime an act in violation of penal laws of a state. Custody detaining of a person by lawful process or authority. Decree an order of the court. defendant- party against which a case is brought in a criminal or civil trial. Std. LLB-Waseem Abbas defense attorney - counsel employed to represent a defendant deponent the person who swears on affidavit. direct examination- period of questioning in a trial when the lawyers of one side question their own witnesses due process - guarantees and procedures built into the legal system into safeguard the civil rights of individuals. Evidence the facts related to a crime. exclusionary rule - the provision that the Supreme Court has interpreted to exist in the Constitution that prohibits evidence obtained by means of an unlawful seizure from being admitted in a court of law execution - termination of human life by the government as punishment for a crime federalism- the sharing of powers and responsibilities between the country's government as a whole (the federal government) and individual state governments. Fine money passed to the court, if found guilty of crime. foreman - the jury members who speaks for the body as a whole grand jury - a panel which receive complaints and accusations of crimes, hears preliminary evidence , and hands down indictments habeas corpus - a judicial order, demanding someone to be present in court to determine if they are legitimately being detained hearsay statement by a witness, who does not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is not usually admissible in court.

 hung jury - a jury which cannot agree on a specific verdict indictment - a formal accusation returned by a grand jury information - a formal accusation that is filed when an indictment is unneccesary because a public official formally accuses the defendant (usually a corporation) judge - the public official who presides over trials and rules on points of law that come into question during trial. Judgment the final decision in a trial of case. jury - a group of unbiased persons who determine the facts of a given case larceny - any type of stealing Std. LLB-Waseem Abbas law a system of rules that people are supposed to follow in a society or country. Civil Law Part of the law that deals with disagreement between private individuals. Criminal Law criminal law is a system of law concerned with crimes and the punishments of criminals. Contract Law this type of law sets rules on agreements to buy and sell items and services. Trust Law this type of law sets out the rules for money that is put into investment such as pensions funds. Tort Law it is used by people to make claims for compensation, when someone hurts them or their property. Constitutional Law it sets the rules for how governments are run and civil rights. Administrative Law it is used by the citizens when they want to challenge government decision. International Law it is used to set out rules, on how countries interact in areas such trade environment or war. litigation - a lawsuit

 magistrate Judicial officer exercising some of the functions of a judge. It also refers in a general way to a Judge. mistrial - when the judge declares a legal proceding to not be a trial because of a major defect or gross error mitigating circumstances - facts that do not justify or excuse a crime, but lessen the amount of moral blame murder - when a person of sound mind (of sufficient age to create a criminal design and legally sane) kills any human being in the peace of the nation (excluding military actions) without a warrant of justification, and with malice aforethought, express or implied order direction of a court or judge made in writing. plaintiff - the side bringing civil charges against another party plea statement by accused whether he is guilty or innocent. prison - a public institution detaining criminals serving long-term incarcerations. Std. LLB-Waseem Abbas

Prison sentence amount of time, a guilty person must spend in jail. prosecutor - public official who presents the government's case against a person accused of a crime respondent a person against whom an appeal is taken search and seizure - the act of law enforcement officers surveying a crime scene and taking into custody any contraband or evidence which has bearing on the immediate case. Sentence the punishment, the accused must do to pay for a crime. smuggling- secretly bringing illegal or taxable goods into a country testify a formal statement given in court by witness under oath tort a private or civil wrong or injury, for which the court provides a remedy through an action for damages.

 Trial it is process of examining evidence and deciding if someone has broken the law. Murder trial: a trial of someone accused of killing another person. Criminal trial: involving a criminal act. Fraud trial: crimes related to financial and business dealing. trauma - an injury to the body caused by an external blow vacate to set aside. Void in valid, a void agreement for which there is no remedy. voir dire - the examination of possible jurors by the judge and attorneys to determine if the jurors will be acceptable for the trial (unbiased) warrant - written permission given by a judge to a police officer to search a house, etc. Warrants can only be given based on probable cause, as evidenced by an affidavit completed by the law enforcement official witness people who might have seen the crime or have knowledge of it writ a judicial order directing a person to do something. Std. LLB-Waseem Abbas Cell No.+923342248139