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Dictionary of Law |
confess :: legal definitionConfess - v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one is guilty of a criminal offense. This admission may be made to a law enforcement officer or in court either prior to or upon arrest, or after the person is charged with a specific crime. A confession must be truly voluntary (not forced by threat, torture, or trickery) and cannot be admitted in trial unless the defendant has been given the so-called Miranda warnings at the time of arrest or when it is clear he/she is the prime suspect, all based on the Fifth Amendment prohibition against self-incrimination. The Miranda warnings are: the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present and that one can be appointed, and that his/her statements may be used against the defendant in court. See also: Bill of Rights confession Miranda warning self-incrimination and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsadmission of guilt :: n. a statement by someone accused of a crime that ... ssion guilty Miranda warning rightsAmerican Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800. answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification 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. Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people. 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. confession :: n. the statement of one charged with a crime that ... Miranda warning self-incrimination confession and avoidance :: n. when a defendant admits the allegations in a co ... tries to avoid their legal impact. confrontation :: n. 1) fight or argument. 2) the right of a crimina ... s. See also: Bill of Rights witness constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution defense attorney :: n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a ... lso: defendant plaintiff's attorney discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights diversion :: n. in criminal procedure, a system for giving a ch ... second offense. See also: probation dower :: n. an old English common law right of a widow to o ... t and distribution widow's election due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights. entrapment :: n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement off ... e drugs if not pressed by the narc? 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 error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand fruit of the poisonous tree :: n. in criminal law, the doctrine that evidence dis ... property. See also: Miranda warning insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy judgment creditor :: n. the winning plaintiff in a lawsuit to whom the ... 's rights judgment prevailing party jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta. martial law :: n. a system of complete control by a country's mil ... n and women. See also: military law Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights M'Naughten rule :: n. a traditional "right and wrong" test of legal i ... temporary insanity Twinkie defense mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed motion in limine :: (lim-in-nay) n. Latin for "threshold," a motion ma ... o: in limine Miranda warning motion no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party 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 possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess prime suspect :: n. the one person law enforcement officers believe ... in trial. See also: Miranda warning privilege against self incrimina-tion :: n. a right to refuse to testify against oneself in ... so: Bill of Rights taking the Fifth procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made. proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion release on one's own recognizance :: v. for a judge to allow a criminal defendant pre-t ... ourtroom slang. See also: bail O.R. retroactive :: adj. referring to a court's decision or a statute ... ospective." See also: ex post facto 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 sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens 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. |