Legal Terms 1
A request made to a higher court for the purpose of reviewing a decision made by a lower court.
What is an Appeal?
Money paid for the temporary release of an accused individual awaiting trial.
What is Bail?
The initial remarks made by attorneys at the start of a trial, outlining the case they will present.
What is an Opening Statement?
The final summary and argument presented by attorneys at the end of a trial.
What is a Closing Argument?
The process of taking legal action.
What is Litigation?
To send a case back to a lower court for further action.
What is Remand?
The person against whom a lawsuit is filed.
Who is the Defendant?
An official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.
Who is the Judge?
The person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Who is the Plaintiff?
The obligation to prove one's assertion.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The initial pleading by which a lawsuit is begun.
What is the Complaint?
Money claimed by, or ordered to be paid to, a person as compensation for loss or injury.
What are Damages?
Evidence or testimony that is allowed in court.
What is Admissible?
The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint.
What is an Answer?
Law derived from judicial decisions instead of statutes.
What is Common Law?
A wrongful act leading to civil legal liability.
The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.
What is Jurisdiction?
The act of showing up in court as a party to a case.
What is an Appearance?
A warrant issued by a judge for the arrest of a person who has failed to appear in court.
What is a Bench Warrant?
The formal reading of charges in the presence of the defendant to inform them of the charges against them.
What is an Arraignment?
A legal decision that serves as an authoritative rule for future similar cases.
What is Precedent?
A set of facts sufficient to justify a right to sue to obtain money, property, or the enforcement of a right against another party.
What is a Cause of Action?
A law prescribing the time period within which legal action can be taken.
What is the Statute of Limitations?
A claim made by a defendant against a plaintiff in response to the original claim.
What is a Counterclaim?
A legal principle demanding that a person detained be brought to court to determine if their imprisonment is lawful.
What is Habeas Corpus?
A person or organization offering information to a court about a case in which they are not a party.
What is Amicus Curiae?
A method of resolving disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute agree to be bound by the decision of a third party.
What is Arbitration?
Legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.
What is Due Process?
A judicial order preventing a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another.
What is an Injunction?
Representing oneself in court without the help of a lawyer.
What is Pro Se?