Vocabulary1
criminal defendant is not guilty, or the evidence is insufficient
Acquittal
an agreement between two or more people creates an obligation
Contract
a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial
Due process
discovery questions answered in writing and under oath.
Interrogatories
defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty"
Plea
written or printed statements made under oath.
Affidavit
legal advice is also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.
Counsel
evidence obtained in violation is not admissible at trial.
Exclusionary rule
legal authority of a court to decide a certain type of case
Jurisdiction
parties to a lawsuit resolve their dispute without having a trial
settlement
criminal defendant asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
Arraignment
money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case
Damages
determines probable cause committed an offense
Grand jury
group of persons to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict
Jury
punishment ordered by a court for a convicted defendant
Sentence
release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under conditions
Bail
statements to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery
Deposition
evidence presented by a witness who did not see/hear the incident
Hearsay
Mistrial
an invalid trial, caused by an error
Mistrial
Attorneys for defendants who are unable to afford counsel
Public Defender
begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims
Complaint
initial witnesses, to obtain discovery
Deposition
Indictment
grand jury charges enough evidence that the defendant committed a crime.
Indictment
release of a prison inmate after completing part of the sentence
Parole
to send back, such as a prison
remand