Dictionary of Law
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bias :: legal definition


Bias - n. the predisposition of a judge, arbitrator, prospective juror, or anyone making a judicial decision, against or in favor of one of the parties or a class of persons. This can be shown by remarks, decisions contrary to fact, reason or law, or other unfair conduct. Bias can be toward an ethnic group, homosexuals, women or men, defendants or plaintiffs, large corporations, or local parties. Getting a "hometown" decision is a form of bias which is the bane of the out-of-town lawyer. There is also the subtle bias of some male judges in favor of pretty women. Obvious bias is a ground for reversal on appeal, but it is hard to prove, since judges are usually careful to display apparent fairness in their comments. The possibility of juror bias is explored in questioning at the beginning of trial in a questioning process called voir dire.

See also: hometowned voir dire and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
challenge for cause :: n. a request that a prospective juror be dismissed ... remptory challenge venire voir dire
continuing objection :: n. an objection to certain questions or testimony ... ional distress. See also: objection
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
dictum :: n. Latin for "remark," a comment by a judge in a d ... cta)." See also: dicta obiter dicta
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
irrelevant :: adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the m ... ce immaterial incompetent objection
judicial discretion :: n. the power of the judge to make decisions on som ... iscretion beyond his/her authority.
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
offer of proof :: n. an explanation made by an attorney to a judge d ... rial irrelevant objection testimony
on the merits :: adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling o ... s if this mistake had not occurred.
overrule :: v. 1) to reject an attorney's objection to a quest ... : appellate court objection sustain
question of fact :: n. in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution, an issue ... also: finding judge question of law
question of law :: n. an issue arising in a lawsuit or criminal prose ... udge question of fact trier of fact
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
sustain :: v. in trial practice, for a judge to agree that an ... /she will "overrule" the objection.
verdict :: n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which mus ... nt quotient verdict special verdict
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge

Popular Law Searches

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Other Law Terms - B

Bachelor of Laws :: n. the degree in law from a law school, abbreviate ... troactively. See also: Juris Doctor
back-to-back life sentences :: n. slang for consecutive life terms imposed by a j ... ther 25 years for a parole hearing.
bad debt :: n. an uncollectible debt. The problem is to determ ... ust no income on which to be taxed.
bad faith :: 1) n. intentional dishonest act by not fulfilling ... ean hands doctrine fraud good faith
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
bail bondsman :: n. a professional agent for an insurance company w ... t to jail. See also: bail bail bond
bailee :: n. a person, also called a custodian, with whom so ... he goods. See also: bailment bailor
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bailment :: n. 1) the act of placing property in the custody a ... "bailment." See also: bailee bailor
bailor :: n. a person who leaves goods in the custody of ano ... is found. See also: bailee bailment
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balance due :: n. the amount of a debt still owed on an account o ... cipal due without further interest.
balance sheet :: n. the statement of the assets and the liabilities ... ctivity and health of the business.
bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc."
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
bankruptcy proceedings :: n. the bankruptcy procedure is: a) filing a petiti ... ankruptcy court claim in bankruptcy
bar :: 1) n. collectively all attorneys, as "the bar," wh ... a room, building, or real property.
bar association :: n. an organization of lawyers. There are two types ... oluntary organization of attorneys.