willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court
caveat
a legal notice to a court or public officer to suspend a certain proceeding until the notifier is given a hearing
opinion
the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case
slander
defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing
infamous
deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses
malice
evil intent on the part of a person who commits a wrongful act injurious to others
mandatory
permitting no option, not to be disregarded or modified
precedent
a legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases
fiduciary
a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another
abate
to put an end to or suppress a nuisance; to annul a writ
present
to bring against, as a formal charge against a person; to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense
innuendo
an action for slander or libel, the explanation and elucidation of the words alleged to be defamatory
purview
that which is provided or enacted in a statute, as distinguished from the preamble
conspiracy
an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act
incompetent
being unable or legally unqualified to perform specified acts or to be held legally responsible for such acts
exception
an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial
fiction
an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law
privy
a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction
several
binding two or more persons who may be sued separately on a common obligation
extortion
the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority
abeyance
a state or condition of real property in which title is not as yet vested in a known titleholder
waive
to relinquish a known right or interest intentionally
distress
the legal seizure and detention of the goods of another as security or satisfaction for debt
duress
such constraint or coercion as will render void a contract or other legal act entered or performed under its influence
evidence
data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects
affidavit
a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official
obligation
an agreement enforceable by law, originally applied to promises under seal; a bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money
warrant
an instrument, issued by a magistrate, authorizing an officer to make an arrest, seize property, make a search, or carry a judgment into execution
collusion
a secret understanding between two or more persons to gain something illegally, to defraud another, or to appear as adversaries though in agreement
aggravated
characterized by some feature defined by law that enhances the crime, as the intention of the criminal or the special vulnerability of the victim
intent
the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object
lien
the legal claim of one person upon the property of another person to secure the payment of a debt or the satisfaction of an obligation
negligence
pertaining to civil action for compensation for damages by a person who claims to have suffered an injury or loss caused by another's inadvertent action
submission
an agreement between parties involved in a dispute, to abide by the decision of an arbitrator or arbitrators
indictment
a formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes
verdict
the finding or answer of a jury given to the court concerning a matter submitted to their judgment
injunction
a judicial process or order requiring the person or persons to whom it is directed to do a particular act or to refrain from doing a particular act
settle
to secure property or title to a person by formal or legal process; to terminate legal proceedings by mutual consent of the parties
plaintiff
a person who brings suit in a court against a defendant
tort
a wrongful act, not including a breach of contract or trust, that results in injury to another's person, property, reputation, or the like
petition
an application for a court order or for some judicial action
escrow
a written agreement deposited with a third person, by whom it is to be delivered to the grantee or promisee on the fulfillment of some condition
adjudication
the act of a court in making an order, judgment, or decree; a judicial decision or sentence
bail
property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time
deed
a writing or document executed under seal and delivered to effect a conveyance, especially of real estate
prosecute
to institute legal proceedings against a person; to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process; to conduct criminal proceedings in court against
assignment
the transference of a right, interest, or title, or the instrument of transfer; a transference of property to assignees for the benefit of creditors
criminal
of or pertaining to crime or its punishment
manslaughter
the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought
prosecution
the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person; the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on
revocation
nullification or withdrawal, especially of an offer to contract
testify
to state or declare under oath or affirmation, usually in court
chamber
a place where a judge hears matters not requiring action in open court; the private office of a judge
acquittal
judicial deliverance from a criminal charge on a verdict or finding of not guilty
prosecutor
a person, as a complainant or chief witness, instigating prosecution in a criminal proceeding
summons
a call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer
bankrupt
a person who is adjudged insolvent by a court and whose property is administered for and divided among his or her creditors under a bankruptcy law
malpractice
failure of a professional person, as a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence
foreclose
to deprive of the right of one to redeem property, especially on a mortgage when due, ownership of property then passing to the mortgagee
extenuating circumstances
circumstances that render conduct less serious and thereby serve to reduce the damages to be awarded or the punishment to be imposed
eminent domain
the power of the state to take private property for public use with payment of compensation to the owner
premeditation
sufficient forethought to impute deliberation and intent to commit the act
probable cause
reasonable ground for a belief, as that the accused was guilty of the crime, used especially as a defense to an action for malicious prosecution
double jeopardy
the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the same offense for which the person has already been tried or punished
punitive damages
damages awarded to a plaintiff in excess of compensatory damages in order to punish the defendant for a reckless or willful act
restraining order
a judicial order to forbid a particular act until a decision is reached on an application for an injunction
search warrant
a court order authorizing the examination of a dwelling or other private premises by police officials, as for stolen goods
penal code
the aggregate of statutory enactments dealing with crimes and their punishment
bench warrant
a warrant issued or ordered by a judge or court for the apprehension of an offender
ad damnum
a formal and specific claim by a plaintiff for damages
court of appeals
an appellate court intermediate between the trial courts and the court of last resort
judgment
a judicial decision given by a judge or court; the obligation a debt; the certificate embodying such a decision and issued against the obligor
pardon
a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor; the document by which such remission is declared
plea
an allegation made by a party to a legal suit, in support of his or her claim or defense; a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge
probation
a method of dealing with offenders guilty of minor crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation officer
public domain
the status of a literary work or an invention whose copyright or patent has expired or that never had such protection
trial
the examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact
abscond
to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution
aberration
the act of deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type.
contempt
willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court
caveat
a legal notice to a court or public officer to suspend a certain proceeding until the notifier is given a hearing
opinion
the formal statement by a judge or court of the reasoning and the principles of law used in reaching a decision of a case
slander
defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing
infamous
deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses
malice
evil intent on the part of a person who commits a wrongful act injurious to others
mandatory
permitting no option, not to be disregarded or modified
precedent
a legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases
fiduciary
a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another
abate
to put an end to or suppress a nuisance; to annul a writ
present
to bring against, as a formal charge against a person; to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense
innuendo
an action for slander or libel, the explanation and elucidation of the words alleged to be defamatory
purview
that which is provided or enacted in a statute, as distinguished from the preamble
conspiracy
an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act
incompetent
being unable or legally unqualified to perform specified acts or to be held legally responsible for such acts
exception
an objection, as to a ruling of the court in the course of a trial
fiction
an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law
privy
a person participating directly in or having a derivative interest in a legal transaction
several
binding two or more persons who may be sued separately on a common obligation
extortion
the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority
abeyance
a state or condition of real property in which title is not as yet vested in a known titleholder
waive
to relinquish a known right or interest intentionally
distress
the legal seizure and detention of the goods of another as security or satisfaction for debt
duress
such constraint or coercion as will render void a contract or other legal act entered or performed under its influence
evidence
data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects
affidavit
a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official
obligation
an agreement enforceable by law, originally applied to promises under seal; a bond containing a penalty, with a condition annexed for payment of money
warrant
an instrument, issued by a magistrate, authorizing an officer to make an arrest, seize property, make a search, or carry a judgment into execution
collusion
a secret understanding between two or more persons to gain something illegally, to defraud another, or to appear as adversaries though in agreement
aggravated
characterized by some feature defined by law that enhances the crime, as the intention of the criminal or the special vulnerability of the victim
intent
the state of a person's mind that directs his or her actions toward a specific object
lien
the legal claim of one person upon the property of another person to secure the payment of a debt or the satisfaction of an obligation
negligence
pertaining to civil action for compensation for damages by a person who claims to have suffered an injury or loss caused by another's inadvertent action
submission
an agreement between parties involved in a dispute, to abide by the decision of an arbitrator or arbitrators
indictment
a formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes
verdict
the finding or answer of a jury given to the court concerning a matter submitted to their judgment
injunction
a judicial process or order requiring the person or persons to whom it is directed to do a particular act or to refrain from doing a particular act
settle
to secure property or title to a person by formal or legal process; to terminate legal proceedings by mutual consent of the parties
plaintiff
a person who brings suit in a court against a defendant
tort
a wrongful act, not including a breach of contract or trust, that results in injury to another's person, property, reputation, or the like
petition
an application for a court order or for some judicial action
escrow
a written agreement deposited with a third person, by whom it is to be delivered to the grantee or promisee on the fulfillment of some condition
adjudication
the act of a court in making an order, judgment, or decree; a judicial decision or sentence
bail
property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time
deed
a writing or document executed under seal and delivered to effect a conveyance, especially of real estate
prosecute
to institute legal proceedings against a person; to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process; to conduct criminal proceedings in court against
assignment
the transference of a right, interest, or title, or the instrument of transfer; a transference of property to assignees for the benefit of creditors
criminal
of or pertaining to crime or its punishment
manslaughter
the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought
prosecution
the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person; the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on
revocation
nullification or withdrawal, especially of an offer to contract
testify
to state or declare under oath or affirmation, usually in court
chamber
a place where a judge hears matters not requiring action in open court; the private office of a judge
acquittal
judicial deliverance from a criminal charge on a verdict or finding of not guilty
prosecutor
a person, as a complainant or chief witness, instigating prosecution in a criminal proceeding
summons
a call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer
bankrupt
a person who is adjudged insolvent by a court and whose property is administered for and divided among his or her creditors under a bankruptcy law
malpractice
failure of a professional person, as a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence
foreclose
to deprive of the right of one to redeem property, especially on a mortgage when due, ownership of property then passing to the mortgagee
extenuating circumstances
circumstances that render conduct less serious and thereby serve to reduce the damages to be awarded or the punishment to be imposed
eminent domain
the power of the state to take private property for public use with payment of compensation to the owner
premeditation
sufficient forethought to impute deliberation and intent to commit the act
probable cause
reasonable ground for a belief, as that the accused was guilty of the crime, used especially as a defense to an action for malicious prosecution
double jeopardy
the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the same offense for which the person has already been tried or punished
punitive damages
damages awarded to a plaintiff in excess of compensatory damages in order to punish the defendant for a reckless or willful act
restraining order
a judicial order to forbid a particular act until a decision is reached on an application for an injunction
search warrant
a court order authorizing the examination of a dwelling or other private premises by police officials, as for stolen goods
penal code
the aggregate of statutory enactments dealing with crimes and their punishment
bench warrant
a warrant issued or ordered by a judge or court for the apprehension of an offender
ad damnum
a formal and specific claim by a plaintiff for damages
court of appeals
an appellate court intermediate between the trial courts and the court of last resort
judgment
a judicial decision given by a judge or court; the obligation a debt; the certificate embodying such a decision and issued against the obligor
pardon
a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor; the document by which such remission is declared
plea
an allegation made by a party to a legal suit, in support of his or her claim or defense; a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge
probation
a method of dealing with offenders guilty of minor crimes or first offenses, by allowing them to go at large under supervision of a probation officer
public domain
the status of a literary work or an invention whose copyright or patent has expired or that never had such protection
trial
the examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact
abscond
to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution
aberration
the act of deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type.
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