| Acquittal | A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged. |
|---|---|
| Defense | A general term for the effort of an attorney representing a defendant during trial. |
| Guilty | The admission by a defendant that they have committed the crime they were charged with, or the finding by a judge that the defendant has committed the crime. |
| Liable | To be held legally responsible in civil proceedings. |
| Mistrial | A trial rendered invalid through an error in the proceedings. |
| Not Guilty | Refers to an individual who is not responsible for the crime that they are accused of in a criminal proceeding. |
| Not Liable | A person or entity is found to not be legally responsible in civil proceedings. |
| Objection | A formal protest raised by a party or counsel during a legal proceeding asserting that an error, contrary to the rules of court or procedure, has been. |
| Prosecution | Refers to the District Attorneys Office that is responsible for pressing criminal charges against an individual in a court of law. |
| Acquittal | A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged. |
|---|---|
| General Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. These are damages not based on a monetary loss; tends to include pain and suffering and mental anguish. |
| Expert Witness | A witness that testifies about conclusions that may be drawn based on their expertise. Example, a doctor or medical professional testifying to a medical report. |
| Special Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. Special damages are out of pocket. This includes medical bills and loss wages. |
| Affirmative Defense | When the defence introduces evidence, which, if found to be credible, will negate criminal liability even if it is proven that the defendant committed the alleged acts. Example, self defense. |
|---|---|
| Beyond a reasonable doubt | The legal burden of proof required for a conviction in a criminal case. The prosecution bears the burden of proving that the defendant is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. |
| Compel | A motion that may be made on the docket. It is a formal request to the court to require a party or a non-party in a lawsuit to comply with a discovery request. |
| Discovery | This is the formal process of exchanging information between the parties about the witnesses and evidence they will present at trial. Discovery enables the parties to know before the trial begins what evidence may be presented. |
| Dismiss | The court's decision to terminate a court case without imposing liability on the defendant. |
| Impeach | Either party may impeach a witness. This typically occurs during cross examination. A witness may not be called for the sole purpose of impeachment. Reasons for impeachment can include: bias, incompetency, prior convictions (example: perjury), or inconsistent or contradicting testimony. |
| Plaintiff | The person or group who is accusing another person or group of a civil wrong. |
| Preponderance of Evidence | The amount of proof necessary for civil trials; is it more likely than not that the events occurred. |
| Punitive Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. Meant to punish the defendant. Plaintiff must prove malice or ill will. |
| Sever | A motion typically made by the defense that asks the court to separate a defendant from other defendants in the same case. |
| Character Witness | Typically reserved for sentencing or bail hearings, a witness that speaks to the good nature of the defendant. Allows the prosecution to introduce a character witness that can testify to the defendant’s bad character. Prosecution can only do this if the defense has already introduced a character witness first. |
|---|---|
| Closing Statement | An attorneys final address to the judge in which the attorney summarizes the evidence and his or her client's position before the judge puts the court in recess for deliberation. |
| Cross Examination | The secondary line of questioning for a witness that occurs after a direct examination. The questions must stay within the scope of the first line of questioning. Leading is allowed during a cross examination and the witness is considered hostile. |
| Deliberation | The action a judge takes after both parties of a trial present witness testimony and evidence of analyzing or carefully considering the evidence, facts, the law, or other matters of the trial. |
| Direct Examination | This is the initial questioning of a witness by the attorney that called them to the stand. |
| Directed Verdict | This motion is made after the prosecution has presented their case in the courtroom. Only the prosecution is able to make this motion. |
| Eye Witness | This is a witness who was present and viewed the incident that is being alleged at trial. |
| Hostile Witness | A witness who is being openly antagonistic or argumentative, or whose statements appear contrary. Either party may motion to treat a witness as hostile during a direct examination. If granted, the attorney is able to lead the witness. A witness is already considered hostile during a cross examination. |
| Objection | A formal protest raised by a party or counsel during a legal proceeding asserting that an error, contrary to the rules of court or procedure, has been. |
| Opening Statement | An attorneys first opportunity to address the judge with a summary of the case; it might include a summary of the facts and an outline of the evidence that the attorney plans to present. The plaintiff or prosection will present their statement first. |
| Overruled | Objection is denied. |
| Recall | Refers to requesting a witness who has already given testimony to give further testimony. |
| Recess | A break in the trial. |
| Redirect Examination | The line of questioning that occurs after a cross examination. Questions must stay within the scope of what was discussed during the cross examination. The ability to lead is granted during a redirect examination. |
| Strike | A request to a judge that part of or an entire witnesses line of questioning be removed from the record. |
| Summary Judgment | A motion made by one party in a court case for the judge to render a verdict on the docket, without a full trial. |
| Sustained | Objection is granted. |
| Sustained | Objection is granted. |
| With Prejudice | A case dismissed with prejudice prevents the plaintiff or prosecution from refiling a case on the docket. |
| Without Prejudice | A case dismissed with out prejudice closes the current case on the docket but allows the plaintiff or prosecution to refile the case at a later date. |
| Acquittal | A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged. |
|---|---|
| Affirmative Defense | When the defence introduces evidence, which, if found to be credible, will negate criminal liability even if it is proven that the defendant committed the alleged acts. Example, self defense. |
| Beyond a reasonable doubt | The legal burden of proof required for a conviction in a criminal case. The prosecution bears the burden of proving that the defendant is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. |
| Burden of Proof | The burden of proof is a legal standard that requires parties to provide evidence to demonstrate that a claim is valid. In criminal trials this is "beyond a reasonable doubt" and for civil trials it is "with a preponderance of evidence". |
| Character Witness | Typically reserved for sentencing or bail hearings, a witness that speaks to the good nature of the defendant. Allows the prosecution to introduce a character witness that can testify to the defendant’s bad character. Prosecution can only do this if the defense has already introduced a character witness first. |
| Closing Statement | An attorneys final address to the judge in which the attorney summarizes the evidence and his or her client's position before the judge puts the court in recess for deliberation. |
| Compel | A motion that may be made on the docket. It is a formal request to the court to require a party or a non-party in a lawsuit to comply with a discovery request. |
| Cross Examination | The secondary line of questioning for a witness that occurs after a direct examination. The questions must stay within the scope of the first line of questioning. Leading is allowed during a cross examination and the witness is considered hostile. |
| Defense | A general term for the effort of an attorney representing a defendant during trial. |
| Deliberation | The action a judge takes after both parties of a trial present witness testimony and evidence of analyzing or carefully considering the evidence, facts, the law, or other matters of the trial. |
| Direct Examination | This is the initial questioning of a witness by the attorney that called them to the stand. |
| Directed Verdict | This motion is made after the prosecution has presented their case in the courtroom. Only the prosecution is able to make this motion. |
| Discovery | This is the formal process of exchanging information between the parties about the witnesses and evidence they will present at trial. Discovery enables the parties to know before the trial begins what evidence may be presented. |
| Dismiss | The court's decision to terminate a court case without imposing liability on the defendant. |
| Expert Witness | A witness that testifies about conclusions that may be drawn based on their expertise. Example, a doctor or medical professional testifying to a medical report. |
| Eye Witness | This is a witness who was present and viewed the incident that is being alleged at trial. |
| General Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. These are damages not based on a monetary loss; tends to include pain and suffering and mental anguish. |
| Guilty | The admission by a defendant that they have committed the crime they were charged with, or the finding by a judge that the defendant has committed the crime. |
| Hostile Witness | A witness who is being openly antagonistic or argumentative, or whose statements appear contrary. Either party may motion to treat a witness as hostile during a direct examination. If granted, the attorney is able to lead the witness. A witness is already considered hostile during a cross examination. |
| Impeach | Either party may impeach a witness. This typically occurs during cross examination. A witness may not be called for the sole purpose of impeachment. Reasons for impeachment can include: bias, incompetency, prior convictions (example: perjury), or inconsistent or contradicting testimony. |
| Liable | To be held legally responsible in civil proceedings. |
| Mistrial | A trial rendered invalid through an error in the proceedings. |
| Not Guilty | Refers to an individual who is not responsible for the crime that they are accused of in a criminal proceeding. |
| Not Liable | A person or entity is found to not be legally responsible in civil proceedings. |
| Objection | A formal protest raised by a party or counsel during a legal proceeding asserting that an error, contrary to the rules of court or procedure, has been. |
| Opening Statement | An attorneys first opportunity to address the judge with a summary of the case; it might include a summary of the facts and an outline of the evidence that the attorney plans to present. The plaintiff or prosection will present their statement first. |
| Overruled | Objection is denied. |
| Plaintiff | The person or group who is accusing another person or group of a civil wrong. |
| Preponderance of Evidence | The amount of proof necessary for civil trials; is it more likely than not that the events occurred. |
| Prosecution | Refers to the District Attorneys Office that is responsible for pressing criminal charges against an individual in a court of law. |
| Punitive Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. Meant to punish the defendant. Plaintiff must prove malice or ill will. |
| Recall | Refers to requesting a witness who has already given testimony to give further testimony. |
| Recess | A break in the trial. |
| Redirect Examination | The line of questioning that occurs after a cross examination. Questions must stay within the scope of what was discussed during the cross examination. The ability to lead is granted during a redirect examination. |
| Sever | A motion typically made by the defense that asks the court to separate a defendant from other defendants in the same case. |
| Special Damages | Financial relief sought in a civil matter. Special damages are out of pocket. This includes medical bills and loss wages. |
| Strike | A request to a judge that part of or an entire witnesses line of questioning be removed from the record. |
| Summary Judgment | A motion made by one party in a court case for the judge to render a verdict on the docket, without a full trial. |
| Supress | A motion to prevent evidence, a witness, or witness testimony from appearing or testifying in trial or on the docket. |
| Sustained | Objection is granted. |
| With Prejudice | A case dismissed with prejudice prevents the plaintiff or prosecution from refiling a case on the docket. |
| Without Prejudice | A case dismissed with out prejudice closes the current case on the docket but allows the plaintiff or prosecution to refile the case at a later date. |