1st
criminal defendant is not guilty, or evidence is insufficient
acquittal
criminal defendant asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
arraignment
begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims
complaint
legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.
counsel
statements to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery
deposition
written or printed statement made under oath.
affidavit
release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under conditions
Bail
an agreement between two or more people creates an obligation
contract
money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case
damage
a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial
due process
evidence obtained in violation is not admissible at trial.
exclusionary rule
determines probable cause committed an offense
grand jury
evidence presented by a witness who did not see/hear incident
hearsay
grand jury charge enough evidence defendant committed crime
indictment
discovery questions answered in writing and under oath
interrogatories
legal authority of court to decide a certain type of case
jurisdiction
group of persons to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict
jury
an invalid trial, caused by an error
mistrial
release of a prison inmate after completed part of sentence
parole
defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty"
plea
attorney for defendants who are unable to afford counsel
public defender
to send back, such as prison
remand
punishment ordered by court for a convicted defendant
sentence
parties to a lawsuit resolve their dispute without having a trial
settlement
the time which a lawsuit must be filed
statute of limitations