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criminal defendant is not guilty, or evidence is insufficient
Acquittal
attorney for defendants who are unable to afford counsel
Public Defender
to send back, such as prison
Remand
money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case
Damages
begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims
Complaint
written or printed statement made under oath.
Affidavit
evidence presented by a witness who did not see/hear incident
Hearsay
criminal defendant asked to plead guilty or not guilty
Arraignment
punishment ordered by court for a convicted defendant
Sentence
the time which a lawsuit must be filed
Statute of limitations
discovery questions answered in writing and under oath
Interrogatories
release of a prison inmate after completing part of sentence
Parole
an invalid trial, caused by an error
Mistrial
evidence obtained in violation is not admissible at trial.
Exclusionary rule
legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.
Counsel
a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial
Due process
an agreement between two or more people creates an obligation
Contract
legal authority of court to decide a certain type of case
Jurisdiction
release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under conditions
Bail
grand jury charge enough evidence defendant committed crime
Indictment
defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty"
Plea
group of persons to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict
Jury
determines probable cause committed an offense
Grand jury
parties to a lawsuit resolve their dispute without having a trial
Settlement
statements to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery
Deposition