Legal Terminology
This type of law is developed by members of Parliament and is often referred to as Acts of Parliament.
What is Statute Law?
This group of 12 randomly selected citizens is responsible for determining the verdict in serious criminal trials.
What is a jury?
What is the name for a draft law that is proposed in Parliament before it becomes an official Act?
What is a Bill?
Who is the person being sued in a civil trial or accused of a crime in a criminal trial?
Who is the defendant?
This 'Backpacker Killer' was convicted of murdering seven young travelers in the Belanglo State Forest.
Who is Ivan Milat?
In a criminal trial, this is the high standard of proof that the prosecution must meet to find a defendant guilty.
What is beyond reasonable doubt?
This term describes the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, rather than reviewing a previous decision.
What is juristicion?
Which person is responsible for bringing a case to court in a civil law dispute?
What is the Plaintiff?
What is 'Common Law'?
What are laws made my judges?
This infamous bushranger was hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol in 1880 after a final shootout at Glenrowan.
Who is Ned Kelly?
This legal principle involves a judge following the decisions made in similar past cases by higher courts.
What is precedent?
Before a bill becomes an official law in Australia, it must receive this final sign-off from the Governor-General.
What is royal assent?
What is the highest court in the Australian legal system?
What is the High Court?
This 1980 disappearance of a baby at Uluru led to one of Australia's most famous miscarriages of justice involving Lindy Chamberlain.
What is Azaria Chamberlain and "The dingo got my baby?"
In 2005, this Australian woman was sentenced to 20 years in an Indonesian prison for drug trafficking.
Who is Shappelle Corby?
In the Australian court hierarchy, this is the highest court that hears cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution.
What is the High Court of Australia?
This specific area of civil law deals with disputes between individuals where one party has suffered a loss due to the another's carelessness.
What is Tort Law?
In a civil trial, what is the standard of proof required to find someone responsible?
What is On the Balance of Probabilities?
This bushman was the last person to be legally executed (hanged) in Australia in 1967
Who is Ronald Ryan?
This Queensland case, solved years later by a covert police 'Mr. Big' sting, involved the abduction of a 13-year-old boy in 2003.
Who is Daniel Morcombe?
This person is the 'plaintiff' in a civil case, but in a criminal case, the legal action is brought by this entity.
What is the prosecution?
This term refers to a less serious criminal offence, such as shoplifting, which is usually heard in the Local Court.
What is an summary offense?
What does 'Royal Assent' mean in the law-making process?
What is the Governor General's Signature?
What was the name of the shooter in the Port Authur Massacre?
Who is Martin Bryant?
This term refers to the group of nine Australians arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin out of Bali.
Who are The Bali 9?