12AM Legal Terminology

Front

acquittal

Back

a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged; “declaration of innocence”

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

deliberation

Back

a discussion and consideration by a group of persons (such as a jury or legislature) of the reasons for and against a measure; long and careful discussion

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

verdict

Back

a decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest; judgment

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

testimony

Back

a formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law; evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Front

reasonable doubt

Back

the lack of evidence that prevents a jury or judge from convicting a defendant of a crime; the standard of proof that must be exceeded in a criminal case to secure a guilty verdict

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Front

cross-examination

Back

a legal process where a party questions a witness who has already been questioned by the opposing party; The purpose of cross-examination is to challenge the witness's credibility or the reliability of their testimony

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

hung jury

Back

a judicial jury that cannot agree upon a verdict after extended deliberation and is unable to reach the required unanimity or supermajority; A hung jury may result in the case being tried again. This situation can occur only in common law legal systems; “a deadlocked jury”

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

prosecution

Back

The legal party responsible for presenting the case against the defendant; the legal process of bringing charges against a person accused of a crime and presenting the case in a criminal trial

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

defendant

Back

an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.4C

CCSS.L.6.4C

CCSS.L.7.4C

CCSS.L.8.4C

CCSS.L.9-10.4C

Front

evidence

Back

the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid; information given personally, drawn from a document, or in the form of material objects, tending or used to establish facts in a legal investigation or admissible as testimony in court

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1