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Dictionary of Law |
hung jury :: legal definitionHung jury - n. slang for a hopelessly deadlocked jury in a criminal case, in which neither side is able to prevail. Usually it means there is no unanimous verdict (although in Oregon and Louisiana 10 of 12 jurors can convict or acquit). If the jury is hung the trial judge will declare a mistrial. A new trial from scratch, with a new jury panel, is required. The prosecutor can decide not to re-try the case, particularly if a majority of the jury favored acquittal. See also: dismissal jury mistrial trial and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsappeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people. calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases. case law :: n. reported decisions of appeals courts and other ... es. See also: case system precedent charge :: n. 1) in a criminal case, the specific statement o ... trial judge. 3) a fee for services. civil calendar :: n. the list of lawsuits (cases) that are approachi ... y sent to trial. See also: calendar constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials. de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict fact :: n. an actual thing or happening, which must be pro ... dge if he/she sits without a jury). finding :: n. the determination of a factual question vital ( ... e case. See also: conclusion of law harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity insufficient evidence :: n. a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an app ... l court. See also: evidence finding jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue juror :: n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists ... : Grand Jury jury jury panel venire jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury jury trial :: n. a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution in ... the final judgment. See also: jury long cause :: n. a lawsuit in which it is estimated that a trial ... dar call court calendar short cause mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V. no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence quotient verdict :: n. an award of money damages set by a jury in a la ... rial motion for a new trial verdict small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court. status conference :: n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge ... g a trial date. See also: discovery trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. verdict :: n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which mus ... nt quotient verdict special verdict Popular Law Searcheslegal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay. forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay. what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger." mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor. clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate. Other Law Terms - Hhabeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.habitable :: adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can ... rent. See also: landlord and tenant habitual criminal :: n. under the statutes of many states, a person who ... r any further criminal convictions. half blood :: 1) adj. sharing one parent only. 2) n. a half brot ... icularly Native American and white. harass :: (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or c ... also: harassment sexual harassment harassment :: (either harris-meant or huh-rass-meant) n. the act ... See also: harass sexual harassment harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family." headnote :: n. the summary of the key legal points determined ... not the court's. See also: reports hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial hearsay :: n. 1) second-hand evidence in which the witness is ... t or gossip. See also: hearsay rule hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay heat of passion :: n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an ... oing. See also: manslaughter murder heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will heir apparent :: n. the person who is expected to receive a share o ... isinherited by will. See also: heir heiress :: n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who ... in the "department store heiress." heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion held :: v. decided or ruled, as "the court held that the c ... See also: decision judgment ruling hereditament :: n. any kind of property which can be inherited. Th ... till found in some wills and deeds. hidden asset :: n. an item of value which does not show on the boo ... ets on a profit and loss statement. |