Dictionary of Law
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own recognizance :: legal definition


Own recognizance - (O.R.) n. the basis for a judge allowing a person accused of a crime to be free while awaiting trial, without posting bail, on the defendant's own promise to appear and his/her reputation. The judge may consider the seriousness of the crime charged, the likelihood the defendant will always appear, the length of time the person has lived in the area, his/her reputation in the community, his/her employment, financial burdens and the demeanor of the accused. In minor crimes, traffic offenses and technical law violations such as leaky septic systems, judges routinely grant release on one's own recognizance.

See also: bail O.R. and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
admission to bail :: n. an order of a court in a criminal case allowing ... lient. See also: bail bail bondsman
adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
apparent authority :: n. the appearance of being the agent of another (e ... e also: agency ostensible authority
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
bail bond :: n. a bond provided by an insurance company through ... urned. See also: bail bail bondsman
bench warrant :: n. a warrant issued by a judge, often to command s ... appear in court. See also: warrant
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
clean hands doctrine :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
conclusion of fact :: n. in a trial, the final result of an analysis of ... quested. See also: finding judgment
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
confession :: n. the statement of one charged with a crime that ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
conservatee :: n. a person whom a court has determined because of ... and the like. See also: conservator
contributory negligence :: n. a doctrine of common law that if a person was i ... : comparative negligence negligence
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
crime of passion :: n. a defendant's excuse for committing a crime due ... dant. See also: manslaughter murder
diversion :: n. in criminal procedure, a system for giving a ch ... second offense. See also: probation
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
excessive bail :: n. an amount of bail ordered posted by an accused ... ppeal for reduction. See also: bail
excusable neglect :: n. a legitimate excuse for the failure of a party ... See also: default default judgment
extradition :: n. the surrender by one state or country of a pers ... ty. See also: fugitive from justice
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
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
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
incompetent :: adj. 1) referring to a person who is not able to m ... n incompetency incompetent evidence
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
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
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion
murder :: n. the killing of a human being by a sane person, ... premeditation second degree murder
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge
order to show cause :: n. a judge's written mandate that a party appear i ... vernmental agency. See also: O.S.C.
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
principal :: n. 1) main person in a business. 2) employer, the ... ry agency agent respondeat superior
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
release on one's own recognizance :: v. for a judge to allow a criminal defendant pre-t ... ourtroom slang. See also: bail O.R.
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
state of domicile :: n. the state in which a person has his/her permane ... orated. See also: domicile resident
suspended sentence :: n. in criminal law, a penalty applied by a judge t ... may be enforced. See also: sentence
theft :: n. the generic term for all crimes in which a pers ... rglary embezzlement larceny robbery
time served :: n. the period a criminal defendant has been in jai ... o the defendant. See also: sentence
void for vagueness :: adj. referring to a statute defining a crime which ... o the states by the 14th Amendment.
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant

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 - O

O.R. :: n. short for "own recognizance," meaning the judge ... "OR-ed." See also: own recognizance
O.S.C. :: n. short for order to show cause. See also: order ... ause. See also: order to show cause
oath :: n. 1) a swearing to tell the truth, the whole trut ... ountry. See also: affidavit perjury
obiter dicta :: : (oh-bitter dick-tah) n. remarks of a judge which ... imply dicta. See also: dicta dictum
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
obligation :: n. a legal duty to pay or do something. ... legal duty to pay or do something.
obligee :: (ah-bluh-jee) n. the person or entity to whom an o ... ne to be paid on a promissory note.
obligor :: (ah-bluh-gore) n. the person or entity who owes an ... who must pay on a promissory note.
obscene :: adj., adv. a highly subjective reference to materi ... en I see it." See also: pornography
obstruction of justice :: n. an attempt to interfere with the administration ... n arrest. Such activity is a crime.
occupancy :: n. 1) living in or using premises, as a tenant or ... ining ownership. See also: occupant
occupant :: n. 1) someone living in a residence or using premi ... gain ownership. See also: occupancy
occupation :: n. 1) fairly permanent trade, profession, employme ... of real property or use of a thing.
occupational disease :: n. an illness resulting from long-term employment ... tion for a work-related disability.
occupational hazard :: n. a danger or risk inherent in certain employment ... e of death or injury while at work.
occupy the field :: v. to preempt (monopolize) an area of statutory la ... ertain topics. See also: preemption
of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence.
off calendar :: adj. refers to an order of the court to take a law ... of either party. See also: calendar
offender :: n. an accused defendant in a criminal case or one ... crime. See also: accused defendant