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Dictionary of Law |
directed verdict :: legal definitionDirected verdict - n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direction by a trial judge that they must bring in that verdict because one of the parties has not proved his/her/its case as a matter of law (failed to present credible testimony on some key element of the claim or of the defense). A judge in a criminal case may direct a verdict of acquittal on the basis that the prosecution has not proved its case, but the judge may not direct a verdict of guilty, since that would deprive the accused of the constitutional right to a jury trial. See also: acquittal element judgment jury trial verdict and Related Law Terms ↓ Related Law Termsabuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.acquit :: v. what a jury or judge sitting without a jury doe ... ndant not guilty. See also: verdict admissible evidence :: n. evidence which the trial judge finds is useful ... olving violence. See also: evidence appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal." arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people. 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. charge :: n. 1) in a criminal case, the specific statement o ... trial judge. 3) a fee for services. civil calendar :: n. the list of lawsuits (cases) that are approachi ... y sent to trial. See also: calendar comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence conclusion :: n. 1) in general, the end. 2) in a trial, when all ... onclusion of fact conclusion of law constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials. cross-examination :: n. the opportunity for the attorney (or an unrepre ... examination testimony trial witness de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo dismiss :: v. the ruling by a judge that all or a portion (on ... nst that party. See also: dismissal examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness fact :: n. an actual thing or happening, which must be pro ... dge if he/she sits without a jury). fact finder (finder of fact) :: n. in a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution ... n facts. See also: question of fact final settlement :: n. an agreement reached by the parties to a lawsui ... rneys present. See also: settlement finding :: n. the determination of a factual question vital ( ... e case. See also: conclusion of law Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing 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 hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial 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 impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing 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 insufficient evidence :: n. a finding (decision) by a trial judge or an app ... l court. See also: evidence finding joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits judgment notwithstanding the verdict :: (N.O.V.) n. reversal of a jury's verdict by the tr ... veredicto. See also: N.O.V. verdict jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue juror :: n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists ... : Grand Jury jury jury panel venire 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 jury trial :: n. a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution in ... the final judgment. See also: jury long cause :: n. a lawsuit in which it is estimated that a trial ... dar call court calendar short cause malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial moral certainty :: n. in a criminal trial, the reasonable belief (but ... : beyond a reasonable doubt verdict motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V. motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion motion to strike :: n. a request for a judge's order to eliminate all ... be unrung." See also: motion strike N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic nolle prosequi :: (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for "we shall no lo ... nocent and declared nolle prosequi. non-suit :: n. a ruling by the judge in a lawsuit either when ... the defendant. See also: dismissal not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain on the merits :: adj. referring to a judgment, decision or ruling o ... s if this mistake had not occurred. open court :: n. the conduct of judicial proceedings (trials, he ... which are usually held in chambers. order :: 1) n. every direction or mandate of a judge or a c ... defendant. See also: judge judgment peremptory challenge :: n. the right of the plaintiff and the defendant in ... challenge for cause jury voir dire plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence quotient verdict :: n. an award of money damages set by a jury in a la ... rial motion for a new trial verdict reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence short cause :: n. a lawsuit which is estimated by the parties (us ... l be reset later as a "long cause." small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court. specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict status conference :: n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge ... g a trial date. See also: discovery strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store. trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time. trier of fact :: n. the judge or jury responsible for deciding fact ... r referee may be the trier of fact. 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 witness stand :: n. a chair at the end of the judge's bench on the ... estimony clearly. See also: witness 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 - DD.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state. D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol. D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children). damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment. date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket." de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis. de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property. death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes. death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds. |