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Dictionary of Law |
status conference :: legal definitionStatus conference - n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge required under federal Rules of Procedure and in many states required to inform the court as to how the case is proceeding, what discovery has been conducted (depositions, interrogatories, production of documents), any settlement negotiations, probable length of trial and other matters relevant to moving the case toward trial. Court rules usually require the filing of a status conference statement prior to the conference. In federal courts the status conference is also the occasion for setting a trial date. See also: discovery and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsabortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay. actionable :: adj. when enough facts or circumstances exist to m ... ction lawsuit malicious prosecution administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate admiralty :: n. concerning activities which occur at sea, inclu ... "proctors." See also: maritime law admission to bail :: n. an order of a court in a criminal case allowing ... lient. See also: bail bail bondsman advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit ancillary jurisdiction :: n. a term used in federal courts when the court de ... ine. See also: pendent jurisdiction appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." arbitration :: n. a mini-trial, which may be for a lawsuit ready ... tance of the arbitrator's decision. arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed. bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases. case :: n. short for a cause of action, lawsuit, or the ri ... ny, the court stated the rule as:." case law :: n. reported decisions of appeals courts and other ... es. See also: case system precedent 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 citation :: n. 1) a notice to appear in court due to the proba ... se is not in point." See also: cite civil calendar :: n. the list of lawsuits (cases) that are approachi ... y sent to trial. See also: calendar comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply. competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will conflict of law :: n. a situation in which both state and federal law ... y arose. See also: forum preemption 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 costs :: n. fees for expenses that the courts pass on to at ... ee also: cost bill prevailing party de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict discovery :: n. the entire efforts of a party to a lawsuit and ... ee also: deposition interrogatories district court :: n. 1) in the federal court system, a trial court f ... urt in some states. See also: court docket :: 1) n. the cases on a court calendar. 2) n. brief n ... r or make notes on action in court. execute :: v. 1) to finish, complete or perform as required, ... ishment contract executed execution expert witness :: n. a person who is a specialist in a subject, ofte ... sitions. See also: expert testimony federal courts :: n. the court system which handles civil and crimin ... rans' appeals. See also: bankruptcy federal question :: n. one basis for filing a lawsuit in federal distr ... ves the federal court jurisdiction. file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case. final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement 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 harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay hung jury :: n. slang for a hopelessly deadlocked jury in a cri ... also: dismissal jury mistrial trial information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity inspection of documents :: n. the right to examine and copy the opposing part ... evidence subpena duces tecum trial insufficient evidence :: n. a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an app ... l court. See also: evidence finding interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery 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 jurisdictional amount :: n. the range between the minimum and maximum amoun ... equirements. See also: jurisdiction jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute long cause :: n. a lawsuit in which it is estimated that a trial ... dar call court calendar short cause magistrate :: n. 1) a generic term for any judge of a court, or ... ce of the peace preliminary hearing mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors. maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life." Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V. municipal court :: n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misd ... nd/or small claims. See also: court nisi prius :: : (nee-see pree-us) adj. Latin for "unless first," ... : original jurisdiction trial court no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity on all fours :: adj. a reference to a lawsuit in which all the leg ... ame conclusion. See also: precedent pendent jurisdiction :: n. in federal procedure, the policy that allows a ... n. (It also may be spelled: pendant petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ plain error :: n. a mistake by the trial court found by a court o ... ire reversal of the trial decision. plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing precedent :: 1) n. a prior reported opinion of an appeals court ... to perform. See also: stare decisis privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege pro hac vice :: : (proh hock vee-chay) prep. Latin for "this time ... association with a local attorney. procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made. 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 record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement remittitur :: n. 1) a judge's order reducing a judgment awarded ... party on appeal). See also: remand reply brief :: n. the written legal argument of the respondent (t ... ee also: appeal appellee respondent reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries. respondent :: n. 1) the party who is required to answer a petiti ... "appellant") in the appeals court. reversal :: n. the decision of a court of appeal ruling that t ... e of damages is ordered to dismiss. review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error ripe :: adj. in constitutional law, referring to a law cas ... or more issues raised by the case. rule :: 1) v. to decide a legal question, by a court, as i ... ee also: regulations rules of court rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle shortening time :: n. an order of the court in response to the motion ... e notice is served within 24 hours. small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court. special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance standing :: n. the right to file a lawsuit or file a petition ... so: actual controversy jurisdiction stare decisis :: : (stah-ree duh-sigh-sis) n. Latin for "to stand b ... pellate court lower court precedent statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll supra :: (sooh-prah) Latin for "above," in legal briefs and ... d as Guinn v. United States, supra. Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court Tax Court :: n. a federal agency with courts in major cities wh ... Appeals. See also: court income tax temporary injunction :: n. a court order prohibiting an action by a party ... ry injunction. See also: injunction transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested. trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. trial court :: n. the court which holds the original trial, as di ... a court of appeals. See also: trial trial de novo :: n. a form of appeal in which the appeals court hol ... from small claims court judgments. venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens writ of coram nobis :: : (writ of core-uhm noh-bis) n. from Latin for "in ... ment if known at the time of trial. 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 - Ssaid :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck. sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market. scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent. scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment. scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license. seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today. sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny. search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant 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 second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder |