People in the Courtroom
This person keeps order in the court, asks the people to stand, and take oath prior to testifying
Who is the Baliff?
This is the plea where you tell the court you committed the crime
What is guilty plea?
Instructions to the jury from the Judge. Also called, charge to the jury
What are Jury Instructions?
When all the jurors cannot agree on a verdict, then there is no verdict.
What is a mistrial?
The decision found by a jury or a judge at the end of a trial.
What is a verdict?
This person acts as a referee, does not take sides, can sometimes decide a verdict, and always hands down the sentence.
Who is the Judge?
This verdict allows you to go home immediately after trial.
What is not guilty?
The legal proceedings held in the courtroom, with or without a jury, that ends with a verdict.
What is a trial?
The person's current ability to understand how the court works and their current ability to work with their attorney to resolve their case.
What is capacity to stand trial?
This is a deal between the district attorney and the defendant that is approved by the judge.
What is a plea bargain?
This person represents the State, is not on your side, presents evidence to convict you, or can offer a plea bargain.
Who is the District Attorney?
This is the plea where you aren't saying you committed the crime, but you are not denying that you committed the crime; you are letting the judge decide.
What is a no contest plea?
When law enforcement takes a person into custody, usually put in handcuffs an taken to jail.
What is an arrest?
The person appointed to a defendant if they are unable to afford their own lawyer.
Who is a public defender?
When the defense attorney requests that the defendant is not incarcerated due to the amount of credit (days in jail) they have.
What is time served?
This person types everything that is said in the courtroom and sits near the judge.
Who is the Court Recorder?
This is the plea where you maintain your innocence but acknowledge the State has enough evidence to convict you.
What is an Alford plea?
When a person violates a criminal law.
What is an offense?
The questioning of a witness by the attorney who called them to testify.
What is direct examination?
A formal request by a party who has lost a case in lower court, asking a higher court to review the decision.
What is an appeal?
This person is on the defendant's side, provides legal support to help win the trial, or tries to get you the least amount of time.
Who is the Defense Attorney?
This is the plea where you admit to committing the crime, but because of your mental state at the time of the crime, you didn't understand the difference between right and wrong.
What is not guilty by reason of insanity?
A hearing where the district attorney shows evidence that there is a reasonable belief that the defendant committed a crime and should be charged.
What is a probable cause hearing?
A sentence in a criminal case where you live in the community while you serve your punishment, (e.g. house arrest, probation, drug court treatment).
What is community punishment?
The judge decides there is not enough evidence or that there are other problems with the district attorney's case and court decides not to proceed with the case.
What is a dismissal?