Dictionary of Law
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lineup :: legal definition


Lineup - n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to have a witness or victim identify a person suspected of committing a crime. The suspect is included in a line of people, including non-criminals and others (such as plainclothesmen, office clerks, etc.). Law enforcement officials ask each person in the lineup to speak and turn to profile, while the witness or victim studies each of them and then is asked which person in the lineup, if any, committed the crime in his/her presence. One danger with this system is that the officers will suggest by manner or tone which is the suspect, or that one person in the lineup appears, by dress or conduct, to seem more suspicious. This type of identification is precarious at best.


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
admiralty :: n. concerning activities which occur at sea, inclu ... "proctors." See also: maritime law
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
arrest warrant :: n. a judge's order to law enforcement officers to ... ommitted a crime. See also: warrant
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
character witness :: n. a person who testifies in a trial on behalf of ... ases and civil cases such as fraud.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
compound question :: n. the combination of more than one question into ... rate questions. See also: objection
concealed weapon :: n. a weapon, particularly a handgun, which is kept ... ions, arrests or improper activity.
constable :: n. a law officer for a particular area such as a r ... ice of the Peace. See also: sheriff
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
court-martial :: 1) n. a military court for trying offenses in viol ... the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
cross-examination :: n. the opportunity for the attorney (or an unrepre ... examination testimony trial witness
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
ex post facto :: adj. Latin for "after the fact," which refers to l ... ted before the new law was adopted.
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
fresh pursuit :: n. immediate chase of a suspected criminal by a la ... hot pursuit. See also: hot pursuit
guest statute :: n. a state law which sets standards of care by the ... sked to be let out. See also: guest
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
incriminate :: v. to make a statement in which one admits that he ... d to information which would be so.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
kidnapping :: (also spelled kidnaping) n. the taking of a person ... but now applies to adults as well.
leading :: 1) v. short for "leading the witness," in which th ... tness leading the witness objection
lien :: n. any official claim or charge against property o ... ord's lien mechanic's lien mortgage
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
non-profit corporation :: n. an organization incorporated under state laws a ... harity corporation cy pres doctrine
object :: 1) v. to ask the court not to allow a particular q ... he contract..." See also: objection
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence.
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
presumption :: n. a rule of law which permits a court to assume a ... resumption at all, but a certainty.
prime suspect :: n. the one person law enforcement officers believe ... in trial. See also: Miranda warning
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures.
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
roadside test :: n. a preliminary test law enforcement officers use ... g while intoxicated Miranda warning
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
self-serving :: adj. referring to a question asked of a party to a ... ng declaration. See also: objection
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
stop and frisk :: n. a law enforcement officer's search for a weapon ... h search and seizure search warrant
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
transferred intent :: n. in both criminal and tort (civil wrong) law, wh ... hit upon Truehart. See also: intent
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge
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
witness :: 1) n. a person who testifies under oath in a trial ... lso: deposition evidence trial will

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 - L

labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
landlady :: n. female of landlord or owner of real property fr ... rents or leases. See also: landlord
landlocked :: adj. referring to a parcel of real property which ... which it was created (carved out).
landlord :: n. a person who owns real property and rents or le ... so: lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord and tenant :: n. the name for the area of law concerning renting ... ord lease lessee lessor rent tenant
landlord's lien :: n. the right of a landlord to sell abandoned perso ... to the ex-tenant and a public sale.
lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will
larceny :: n. the crime of taking the goods of another person ... : grand larceny petty larceny theft
last antecedent rule :: n. a doctrine of interpretation (construction) of ... o trucks and not boats or tractors.
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
last will and testament :: n. a fancy and redundant way of saying "will." Law ... writing another one. See also: will
latent defect :: n. a hidden flaw, weakness or imperfection in an a ... warranty product liability warranty
lateral support :: n. the right of a land- owner to assurance that hi ... support problems are less dramatic.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
law of admiralty :: n. statutes, customs and treaties dealing with act ... w. See also: Jones Act maritime law
law of the case :: n. once a judge has decided a legal question durin ... he ruling is the "law of the case."