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Latin Terms
Court Structure
Opinion Types
Latin Terms Continued
Terms You Should Know
100
Affidavit
What is a witnessed, signed statement
100
Name of the trial court in the federal system
What is a United States District Court for the District of x
100
Per curiam
What is unanimous decision
100
in curia
What is in open court
100
judicial review
What is the ability of a court to decide on the constitutionality of legislation
200
bona fide
What is acting in "good faith"
200
highest appellate court in Massachusetts
What is the Supreme Judicial Court
200
majority opinion
What is the opinion shared by the majority, i.e.., 6-3 decision- all six justices agree on one opinion)
200
inter alia
What is "among other things"
200
landmark decision
What is case that changes the law in a significant way, (i.e., Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education)
300
de facto
What is "in fact"
300
The number of federal appellate courts
What is 13 (11 numbered circuit courts plus federal and DC circuit)
300
plurality opinion
What is when the final outcome is agreed by a majority, but for differing reasons (i.e., 6-3 decision; 2 justices write one opinion; 3 write another; 1 writes a third opinion agreeing with decision, but differing on the rationale)
300
per se
What is "by itself"
300
injunction
What is an order that can require the defendant to do or not do something
400
ex parte
What is by a party without notice
400
Plaintiff
What is name for a party bringing the action in a civil case
400
concurring opinion
What is opinion that differs from the majority opinion for different reasons
400
prima facie
What is at "first sight"
400
suppress evidence
What is a court's decision allowing evidence NOT to be used at trial
500
in camera
What is hearing a case in private
500
Writ of Certiorari
What is a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case
500
dissenting opinion
What is the opinion given by a justice who doesn't agree with the majority opinion
500
ad hoc
What is "for this purpose"
500
mens rea
What is "intent"-- often used in criminal law when referencing the mental state required to commit a crime