Dictionary of Law
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indigent :: legal definition


Indigent - 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she cannot provide the necessities of life (food, clothing, decent shelter) for himself/herself. 2) n. one without sufficient income to afford a lawyer for defense in a criminal case. If the court finds a person is an indigent, the court must appoint a public defender or other attorney to represent him/her. This constitutional right of counsel for the indigent was determined by Gideon v. Wainright in 1963, when a penciled letter from a prisoner came to the attention of prominent Washington attorney Abe Fortas, who carried the case to the Supreme Court for free. Fortas later became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 3) adj. referring to a person who is very poor and needy.


Related Law Terms

abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
adjuster :: n. an employee (usually a non-lawyer) of an insura ... e company in approving settlements.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
Associate Justice :: n. a member of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by ... acquitted.) See also: Supreme Court
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
caption :: n. the first section of any written legal pleading ... to the exact format of the caption.
certiorari :: n. (sersh-oh-rare-ee) a writ (order) of a higher c ... cedents (previously decided cases).
Chief Justice :: n. the presiding judge of any State Supreme Court ... nks of existing Associate Justices.
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
conservator :: n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge t ... ies. See also: conservatee guardian
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
declaration of mailing :: n. a form stating that a particular document has b ... other party. See also: declaration
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
dissent :: n. 1) the opinion of a judge of a court of appeals ... sagreement with prevailing thought.
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
incompetency :: n. the condition of lacking the ability to handle ... and/or represented by an attorney.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
obscene :: adj., adv. a highly subjective reference to materi ... en I see it." See also: pornography
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
political question :: n. the determination by a court (particularly the ... ne-vote," as constitutional issues.
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries.
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
supremacy clause :: n. Article VI, section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, ... f involving a constitutional issue.
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
unconstitutional :: adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, ... ee also: constitution Supreme Court
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

legal 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 - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture