American Civil Liberties Union :: legal definition
American Civil Liberties Union - n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to defend and protect "the rights of man set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution." The ACLU researches the legalities of public policies and actions and defends clients in court when civil liberties are in question, without charge and often as amicus curiae (friend of the court). It has committees on academic freedom, state issues, media rights, free speech and association, due process, equal rights, labor/management relations and privacy. It also finances projects on voting rights, reproductive freedom, women's rights, and lesbian and gay rights. While some people consider it to be extremely liberal, the ACLU has defended ex-Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke's right to be on the ballot and the Ku Klux Klan's right to obtain parade permits. Address: 132 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
Related Law Terms
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adoptanswer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil liberties :: n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the F ... nment. See also: civil 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.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
confession :: n. the statement of one charged with a crime that ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
confrontation :: n. 1) fight or argument. 2) the right of a crimina ... s. See also: Bill of Rights witness
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
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
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
land :: n. real property, real estate (and all that grows ... See also: real estate real property
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
leading question :: n. a question asked of a witness by an attorney du ... e also: cross-examination objection
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
liberty :: n. freedom from restraint and the power to follow ... the benefit of the general public.
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
right of way :: n. 1) a pathway or road with a specific descriptio ... s easement egress floating easement
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof
Popular Law Searches
legal 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 - A
a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien