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Dictionary of Law |
nisi prius :: legal definitionNisi prius - : (nee-see pree-us) adj. Latin for "unless first," in some jurisdictions it means the original trial court which heard a case as distinguished from a court of appeals, as in court nisi prius. "Court of original jurisdiction" is often substituted for the term nisi prius. See also: original jurisdiction trial court 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.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. bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff. bifurcate :: v. the order or ruling of a judge that one issue i ... is necessary. See also: bifurcation calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases. competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials. deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery 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 information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing 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 fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury long cause :: n. a lawsuit in which it is estimated that a trial ... dar call court calendar short cause long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant. mandate :: n. 1) any mandatory order or requirement under sta ... See also: mandamus writ of mandate not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity original jurisdiction :: n. the authority of a court to hold a trial, as di ... l judgments. See also: jurisdiction 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 pro hac vice :: : (proh hock vee-chay) prep. Latin for "this time ... association with a local attorney. record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial reply brief :: n. the written legal argument of the respondent (t ... ee also: appeal appellee respondent review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error 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. 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 status conference :: n. a pre-trial meeting of attorneys before a judge ... g a trial date. See also: discovery 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 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 - NN.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdicNational Labor Relations Board :: n. an independent regulatory commission created in ... see union and organizing elections. natural law :: n. 1) standards of conduct derived from traditiona ... eated by mankind through the state. natural person :: n. a real human being, as distinguished from a cor ... ated at law as a fictitious person. necessary :: adj., adv. 1) essen- tial. 2) less forcefully, it ... nient, useful or making good sense. necessary inference :: n. 1) a conclusion militated by reason and logic a ... nown facts. 2) unavoidable meaning. necessary party :: n. a person or entity whose interests will be affe ... o: indispensable party proper party negative declaration :: n. a finding by a city council or other local gove ... so: EIR environmental impact report negative pregnant :: n. a denial of an allegation in which a person act ... suse, just the amount and the date. negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort negligence per se :: (purr say) n. negligence due to the violation of a ... riving. See also: negligence per se negligent :: adj., adv. careless in not fulfilling responsibili ... esponsibility. See also: negligence negotiable instrument :: n. check, promissory note, bill of exchange, secur ... bearer paper bill of exchange check negotiation :: n. 1) the transfer of a check, promissory note, bi ... te. See also: negotiable instrument net :: : n., adj. the amount of money or value remaining ... or net estate. See also: net estate net estate :: n. the remaining estate of a person who has died, ... alue. See also: estate tax gift tax new matter :: n. newly claimed facts or legal issues raised (bro ... ee also: affirmative defense answer next friend :: n. a person (often a relative) who voluntarily hel ... filed. See also: guardian ad litem next of kin :: n. 1) the nearest blood relatives of a person who ... See also: descent and distribution nihil :: (ni [as in it]-hill) n. from Latin for nothing. ... t]-hill) n. from Latin for nothing. |