|
|
|
|
Dictionary of Law |
reports :: legal definitionReports - n. the published decisions of appeals courts in all states and federal courts, which are found in federal, state and regional series (called "reporters") which are constantly updated with pamphlets called "advance sheets" which are soon followed by bound volumes. There are also reports of specialized courts and particular subject matters such as taxes, bankruptcy and federal procedure. Thus there are Massachusetts Reports, Georgia Reports, Kansas Reports, California Supreme Court Reports, California Appellate Reports and similar series for every state. Regional reporters include Northeast, Atlantic, Southeast, Southern, Northwest, Pacific and so forth, and combine several states' decisions. For Supreme Court cases there are three major reporters, including U.S. Reports, Supreme Court Reporter, and Lawyer's Edition Supreme Court Reports. These reports are available in almost all law libraries. 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. 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 adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt 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." Associate Justice :: n. a member of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by ... acquitted.) See also: Supreme Court attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General authorities :: n. 1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which ... also: brief cite decision precedent bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc." bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent 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). Chief Justice :: n. the presiding judge of any State Supreme Court ... nks of existing Associate Justices. 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 comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply. community property :: n. property and profits received by a husband and ... and distribution separate property complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons 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 constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities contempt of court :: n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) ... roduce evidence. See also: sanction copyright :: 1) n. the exclusive right of the author or creator ... plagiarism public domain trademark corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities 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 deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights dissent :: n. 1) the opinion of a judge of a court of appeals ... sagreement with prevailing thought. district court :: n. 1) in the federal court system, a trial court f ... urt in some states. See also: court diversity of citizenship :: n. when opposing parties in a lawsuit are citizens ... unt in controversy exceeds $10,000. eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation 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 equity :: n. 1) a venerable group of rights and procedures t ... ry enjoin equitable injunction writ estate tax :: n. generally a federal tax on the transfer of a de ... commonly called an inheritance tax. 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. forum non conveniens :: (for-uhm nahn cahn-vee-nee-ehns) n. Latin for a fo ... most convenient location for trial. 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 incest :: n. sexual intercourse between close blood relative ... ily genes carrying such weaknesses. incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy. injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ interrogatories :: n. a set of written questions to a party to a laws ... ing. See also: deposition discovery interstate commerce :: n. commercial trade, business, movement of goods o ... and the I.C.C. may soon be history. 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 law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant. magistrate :: n. 1) a generic term for any judge of a court, or ... ce of the peace preliminary hearing Mann Act :: n. a federal statute making it a crime to transpor ... is five years in a federal prison. marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors. mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed municipal court :: n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misd ... nd/or small claims. See also: court no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence officer of the court :: n. any person who has an obligation to promote jus ... also: attorney bailiff clerk judge pendent jurisdiction :: n. in federal procedure, the policy that allows a ... n. (It also may be spelled: pendant police powers :: n. from the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, wh ... host of state regulatory statutes. political question :: n. the determination by a court (particularly the ... ne-vote," as constitutional issues. preemption :: n. the rule of law that if the federal government ... cs control may parallel each other. privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights. probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made. promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury prostitution :: n. the profession of performing sexual acts for mo ... so: pander panderer pimp prostitute public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals. record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures. removal :: n. 1) the change of a legal case from one court to ... a crime or successful impeachment. respondent :: n. 1) the party who is required to answer a petiti ... "appellant") in the appeals court. robbery :: n. 1) the direct taking of property (including mon ... We've been robbed." See also: theft rogatory letters :: n. a written request by a judge to a judge in anot ... also: deposition testimony witness rules of court :: n. a set of procedural regulations adopted by cour ... s counsel. See also: procedure rule sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication sodomy :: n. anal copulation by a man inserting his penis in ... tiality). See also: bestiality rape standing :: n. the right to file a lawsuit or file a petition ... so: actual controversy jurisdiction status conference :: n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge ... g a trial date. See also: discovery 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. 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 tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax Tax Court :: n. a federal agency with courts in major cities wh ... Appeals. See also: court income tax title report :: n. the written analysis of the status of title to ... lso: abstract title title insurance transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested. unconstitutional :: adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, ... ee also: constitution Supreme Court use tax :: n. a state tax on goods purchased in another state ... e" tax equivalent to its sales tax. venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator 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 - Rrace to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgageRacketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statue :: n. a federal law which makes it a crime for organi ... s to operate legitimate businesses. racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia"). ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property. ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal rational basis :: n. a test of constitutionality of a statute, askin ... imate and constitutional objective. ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract. real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit. real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust. real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate reasonable :: adj., adv. in law, just, rational, appropriate, or ... ost of other actions or activities. reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract reasonable speed :: n. the speed of an automobile determined to be low ... e speed limit. See also: negligence |