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Dictionary of Law |
Chief Justice :: legal definitionChief Justice - n. the presiding judge of any State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed by the President and then must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Chief Justice sets the tone for the court, assigns the writing of majority opinions to fellow justices or to himself/herself, and oversees the management of the court and its staff. Since U.S. Supreme Court justices serve for life or until voluntary retirement, they can have long-term influence. There have been only 16 U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justices in over 200 years. All but two were appointed from outside the ranks of existing Associate Justices. Related Law Termsabortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." Associate Justice :: n. a member of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by ... acquitted.) See also: Supreme Court attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment 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 bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney certiorari :: n. (sersh-oh-rare-ee) a writ (order) of a higher c ... cedents (previously decided cases). child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody 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. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals :: n. a federal court established (1929) to hear appe ... lso: Customs Court patent trademark cruel and unusual punishment :: n. governmental penalties against convicted crimin ... opted. See also: capital punishment 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 file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case. gag order :: n. a judge's order prohibiting the attorneys and t ... st day in office, January 22, 1993. 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. indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy. insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate 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 juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order. long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant. 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 notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary. paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader political question :: n. the determination by a court (particularly the ... ne-vote," as constitutional issues. precedent :: 1) n. a prior reported opinion of an appeals court ... to perform. See also: stare decisis presiding judge :: n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the ... and chairs meetings of the judges. 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. pro tem :: 1) adj. short for the Latin pro tempore, temporari ... as "Sam Collins is Pro Tem today." probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries. review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court. special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox. supra :: (sooh-prah) Latin for "above," in legal briefs and ... d as Guinn v. United States, supra. 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 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 - CC.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases. calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial. call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned. calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again. cancellation :: cancel ... cancel caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States. canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection. cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note. capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will. capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity. capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets. |