A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Acquittal - The legal and formal certification of the innocence of a person charged with a crime.
Adjudication - The judgment reached in a judicial procedure.
Adversary System - A judicial system in which opposing parties present their arguments in a case before a trial court.
Affidavit - A written statement originally made under oath before a notary public or other authorized official.
Affirm - The ruling of an appellate court that the judgment of a lower court is proper and should not be overturned.
Allegation - An assertion made by a party in a court proceeding which must be proved or supported with evidence during the trial.
Answer - The defendant's response to allegations in a case.
Appeal - The party appealing a lower court decision or judgment to a higher court.
Appellant - The party appealing a lower court decision or judgment to a higher court.
Appellee - The party against whom an appeal is filed.
Arraignment - The court appearance of a person accused of criminal behavior to hear the charges against him or her and to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
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Bail - Security, usually in the form of money or property, exchanged for the release of a jailed person to insure his or her appearance in court.
Bailiff - An officer from the sheriff s department who maintains courtroom order and jury custody.
Bar Association - A collective body of attorneys qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction, such as the American Bar Association, or Kentucky Bar Association.
Brief - A written or printed document prepared by counsel to file in court, usually setting forth both facts and law in support of a case.
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Case - Any proceeding action, cause, suit, lawsuit or controversy initiated through the court system by filing a complaint, petition or indictment.
Case (Capital) - A criminal case in which the death sentence may be imposed.
Charge to the Jury - A judge's instructions to the jury regarding the laws pertaining to a case.
Chief Justice - Presiding justice of the Supreme Court and the administrative head of the state Court of Justice who is responsible for its management and operation. A Chief Justice is elected every four years from among members of the state Supreme Court.
Chief Judge - The administrative head of a particular division of state court, such as the Court of Appeals, Circuit Court or District Court, who is responsible for the management of individual courts. The Court of Appeals has one chief judge elected by members of the Court. Chief judges of the Circuit or District court serve circuits or districts in which there is more than one judge. These chief judges are either appointed by the Chief Justice or elected by fellow members of their respective courts.
Circuit - A court of general jurisdiction that hears all civil matters involving more than $4,000. It has jurisdiction of capital offenses and felonies, divorce, adoption, termination of parental rights, land title problems and contested probate of wills.
Civil Suit - A suit involving a dispute between two or more individuals or corporations, and usually involving a judgment awarding monetary damages.
Claim - The assertion of a right to money or property Closing Argument - A summary of evidence presented to the jury by attorneys involved in a trial.
Closing argument - A summary of evidence presented to the jury by the attorneys involved in a trial.
Codicil - A supplement or addition to a will.
Commute a Sentence - The judge's ability to reduce the recommended sentence of a jury.
Complainant - The plaintiff in a case.
Complaint (Civil) - Statements by the plaintiff making claims against the defendant.
Complaint (Criminal) - A statement charging an individual with a criminal violation.
Concurrent Sentences - Sentences for multiple crimes that are served at the same time, or concurrently.
Consecutive Sentences - Sentences for multiple crimes that succeed one another.
Contempt of Court - Disregard or disobedience for the authority of a court of law.
Conviction - The finding that a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing a crime.
Counterclaim - A claim filed by a defendant against the plaintiff in a civil action.
Cross Examination - Questioning of a witness by opposing counsel.
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Defendant - The person against whom a civil lawsuit is started, or a crime is charged.
Deliberations - Jury discussions and consideration of the facts presented prior to reaching a verdict, or decision.
Deposition - Testimony taken under oath and outside the courtroom.
Direct Examination - Questioning of a witness by counsel who introduced the witness.
District -A geographical court jurisdiction composed of one or more counties.
District Court - A court of limited jurisdiction that hears civil cases involving $4,000 or less, juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, probate of wills and felony preliminaries. Guardianship and conservatorship for disabled persons are in district court, as well as voluntary and involuntary mental commitments, and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse. Small claims court is also a part of the District Court.
Due process - A constitutional provision guaranteeing an accused person a fair and impartial trial.
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Evidence - Any legally presented proof by a witness, records, documents, etc. during the course of a trial.
Exhibit - Papers, documents, or other material objects received by the court and offered as evidence during a trial or hearing.
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Felony - A serious criminal offense punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
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Indictment - A grand jury's written accusation charging that a person or business allegedly committed a crime.
Injunctions - Court orders enjoining or prohibiting parties in court or legal matters from specific courses of action.
Instructions - Direction given by a judge to the jury regarding the law in a case.
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Judge - An elected or appointed official with the authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law.
Jury - People selected as prescribed by law to render a decision or verdict in a trial.
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Law - Rules and principles of conduct supported by the legislature, court decisions or local customs.
Litigant - Any person or group engaged in a lawsuit.
Litigation - A legal contest in court.
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Misdemeanor - A less serious criminal offense punishable by a fine or imprisonment not to exceed one year.
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Oath - A written or oral pledge to keep. a promise to speak the truth.
Objection - A statement by an attorney opposing specific testimony or admission of evidence.
Opening Statement - An outline of anticipated proof presented to the jury by the attorneys in a case.
Overrule - The court's denial of a motion or objection raised to the court.
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Parties - Those persons, corporations or associations who have filed a lawsuit or are defendants in a lawsuit.
Plaintiff - The person or party filing suit in a court against another person or group.
Penal Code - A group of laws and penalties relating to criminal acts.
Perjury - The act of a witness providing false or misleading testimony while under oath in criminal court proceedings.
Peremptory Challenges - The removal of members from a jury for no stated reason or cause-
Preliminary Hearings - Synonymous with "preliminary examination." The court hearing given a person charged with a crime to determine whether he or she should be released or jailed -
Pleadings - The offering of pleas of a specific nature, such as guilty or not guilty, to a court.
Probable Cause - A reasonable belief that a crime has been or being committed; the basis for all lawful searches.
Probate - The legal process of determining the validity of a will.
Probation - Suspending the sentence of a convicted person and granting supervised freedom on the promise of good behavior.
Prosecution - The act of pursuing a lawsuit or criminal trial; the prosecution in a criminal suit is the state.
Prosecutor - The public official (Commonwealth's or County attorney, or Attorney General or assistant Attorney General) who performs the function of a trial lawyer for the state or county.
Public offense - Public offenses are those committed by juveniles that are the same as adult crimes, including felonies and misdemeanors.
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Rebuttal - The introduction of evidence to discredit statements of witnesses.
Redirect Examination - Follows cross examination and is exercised by the counsel who introduced the witness.
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Sequester a Jury - To place members of a jury into 24 hour a day seclusion until they are able to reach a verdict.
Status Offense - Non-criminal forms of misbehavior, such as running away from home, skipping school, or being beyond the control of parents or teachers.
Statutes - Laws passed or enacted by the state legislature.
Statute of Limitations - A law setting a time limit on enforcement of rights in certain cases.
Subpoena - A written legal notice requiring a person to appear in court to provide testimony as a witness.
Sustain - The court's acceptance of any motion or objection.
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Trial - The examination of issues regarding fact and law before the court.
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Venire - A group of sworn jurors.
Venue - The locality where a crime was committed. Under a "change of venue," the locality in which a trial is to be held can be switched to another location if it is believed that a fair trial cannot be had in the locality where the crime was committed.
Verdict - The final formal trial decision made by a jury, read before the court and accepted by the judge.
Voir Dire Examination - The preliminary questioning of jurors to establish their qualifications.
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Witness - A person testifying under oath in court, who possesses factual knowledge about a case.
Writ of Mandamus - An order issued by a court of superior jurisdiction commanding performance of a particular act by an inferior court or public official.
Writ of Prohibition - An order issued by a court of superior jurisdiction commanding a lower court to vacate a ruling issued in a suit.
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