Vocabulary Part 3

a minor offense for which one may be tried at common law without a jury or for which there is no constitutional right to trial by jury

is a legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or panel of judges makes all decisions.

• kangaroo court

• bench trial

• jury trial

• nolo contendre'

is presented with evidence from the U.S. attorney, the prosecutor in federal criminal cases and determines whether there is “probable cause” to believe the individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial.

• jury

• trial jury

• bench trial

• grand jury

is tried by a judge only—there's no jury

• bench trial

• jury trial

• grand trial

• petty trial

a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court. 

means launching criminal proceedings, against any person, by reason of commission, by him, of an act, which may constitute an offense 

• civil suit

• criminal suit

• trial suit

• commission

a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant, to inform them of the charges against them. In response to arraignment, in some jurisdictions, the accused is expected to enter a plea, in other jurisdictions no plea is required.

• conviction

• arrest

• indictment

• arraignment

action begins when a party to a dispute files a complaint and pays a filing fee required by statute.

• civil suit

• criminal suit

• Sunday suit

• suit jacket

a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.

• arraignment

• indictment

• arrest

• felony

is the trial court of the United States federal judiciary.

• district court

• appellate court

• Supreme Court

• probate court