Courtroom Terminology

A ______________ is an attorney who tries a criminal case

on behalf of the government. This is the individual who represents the interests of the victim.

• Lawyer

• Defendant

• Prosecutor

• Judge

A ____________________ is a person called upon by either side in a lawsuit to give testimony before the court or jury.

• expert

• witness

• speaker

• lawyer

The decision to find the defendant guilty or not guilty is called the _____________. Often, you will hear the judge ask the jury "have you reached a ________?"

• decision

• answer

• verdict

• plea

Evidence presented orally by witnesses during a trial is called...

• testimony

• speech

• evidence

• cross examination

The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime is known as a __________________. Usually, this is a number of years an individual will spend in jail or on probation.

• time period

• sentence

• imprisonment

• verdict

A ____________________ is usually a petty offense, a less serious crime than a felony, punishable by less than a year of confinement.

• felony

• misdemeanor

• crime

• theft

The group of people selected and sworn to hear the facts of the case and then declare a verdict on matters of fact is called the...

• Jury

• Judge

• Juror

• Prosecution

A _________________________ is a serious crime carrying a penalty of more than a year in prison.

• misdemeanor

• crime

• felony

• murder

Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the judge or jury to decide the case for one side or the other is called...

• testimony

• proof

• interviews

• evidence

When the one attorney questions a witness who was called by the attorney for the other side, this is known as ________________________________.

• cross examination

• follow up questions

• rebuttal

• testimony