Dictionary of Law
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Founded: 85
expert testimony :: n. opinions stated during trial or deposition (tes ... inal case. See also: expert witness
expert witness :: n. a person who is a specialist in a subject, ofte ... sitions. See also: expert testimony
forensic testimony :: n. any testimony of expert scientific, engineering ... ee also: forensic forensic medicine
testimony :: n. oral evidence given under oath by a witness in ... tion evidence testify trial witness
forensic medicine :: n. research, reports and testimony in court by exp ... dical examiners. See also: forensic
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
evidence :: n. every type of proof legally presented at trial ... material object objection relevant
lay a foundation :: v. in evidence, to provide to the judge the qualif ... ce and training. See also: evidence
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
oath :: n. 1) a swearing to tell the truth, the whole trut ... ountry. See also: affidavit perjury
no fault divorce :: n. divorces (dissolutions) in which neither spouse ... and South Dakota. See also: divorce
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
paternity suit :: n. a lawsuit, usually by a mother, to prove that a ... d to a prompt and quiet settlement.
perjury :: n. the crime of intentionally lying after being du ... ly made a mistake or misunderstood.
perjurer :: n. a person who intentionally lies while under an ... alse information. See also: perjury
matter of record :: n. anything, including testimony, evidence, ruling ... cussions not written down or taped.
offer of proof :: n. an explanation made by an attorney to a judge d ... rial irrelevant objection testimony
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
leading question :: n. a question asked of a witness by an attorney du ... e also: cross-examination objection
irrelevant :: adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the m ... ce immaterial incompetent objection
physician-patient privilege :: n. the right and obligation of a physician to refu ... onfidential communication privilege
incompetent evidence :: n. testimony, documents or things which one side a ... ns. See also: incompetent objection
material :: adj. relevant and significant. In a lawsuit, "mate ... contract is not a material breach.
marked for identification :: adj. documents or objects presented during a trial ... exhibit lay a foundation objection
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
referee :: n. a person to whom a judge refers a case to take ... on such findings. See also: master
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
sequester :: v. to keep separate or apart. In so-called "high-p ... of others. See also: sequestration
self-serving :: adj. referring to a question asked of a party to a ... ng declaration. See also: objection
subpena :: (subpoena): (suh-pea-nah) n. an order of the court ... ubpena duces tecum subpoena witness
taking the Fifth :: n. the refusal to testify on the ground that the t ... ifth." See also: self-incrimination
witness stand :: n. a chair at the end of the judge's bench on the ... estimony clearly. See also: witness
transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested.
testify :: v. to give oral evidence under oath in answer to q ... deposition evidence testimony trial
self-incrimination :: n. making statements or producing evidence which t ... nda warning rights taking the Fifth
rogatory letters :: n. a written request by a judge to a judge in anot ... also: deposition testimony witness
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
probative :: adj. in evidence law, tending to prove something. ... so: probative facts probative value
preponderance of the evidence :: n. the greater weight of the evidence required in ... what subjective. See also: evidence
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
relevant :: adj. having some reasonable connection with, and i ... nt." See also: irrelevant objection
refresh one's memory :: v. to use a document, exhibit or previous testimon ... it is genuine). See also: testimony
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
forensic :: 1) adj. from Latin forensis for "belonging to the ... in legal matters, including trials.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
patent :: 1) adj. obvious. Used in such expressions as a "pa ... patent infringement patent pending
M'Naughten rule :: n. a traditional "right and wrong" test of legal i ... temporary insanity Twinkie defense
shortening time :: n. an order of the court in response to the motion ... e notice is served within 24 hours.
voir dire :: (vwahr [with a near-silent "r"] deer) n. from Fren ... t witness jury peremptory challenge
character witness :: n. a person who testifies in a trial on behalf of ... ases and civil cases such as fraud.
adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
witness :: 1) n. a person who testifies under oath in a trial ... lso: deposition evidence trial will
master :: n. 1) employer, in the area of law known as "maste ... ter and servant respondeat superior
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
cartel :: n. 1) an arrangement among supposedly independent ... Colombia. See also: antitrust laws
board of directors :: n. the policy managers of a corporation or organiz ... he expertise. See also: corporation
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
consortium :: n. 1) a group of separate businesses or business p ... oney terms is a difficult question.
dependent :: 1) n. a person receiving support from another pers ... dent on the expert being available.
lie detector test :: n. a popular name for a polygraph which tests the ... be referred to. See also: polygraph
finding :: n. the determination of a factual question vital ( ... e case. See also: conclusion of law
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
continuing objection :: n. an objection to certain questions or testimony ... ional distress. See also: objection
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
documentary evidence :: n. any document (paper) which is presented and all ... evancy. See also: document evidence
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
abstract of title :: n. the written report on a title search which show ... e also: chain of title title report
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hearsay :: n. 1) second-hand evidence in which the witness is ... t or gossip. See also: hearsay rule
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict
direct examination :: n. the first questioning of a witness during a tri ... nation deposition testimony witness
credible witness :: n. a witness whose testimony is more than likely t ... ther factors. See also: credibility
credibility :: n. whether testimony is worthy of belief, based on ... jective. See also: credible witness
corroborate :: v. to confirm and sometimes add substantiating (re ... l. See also: corroborating evidence
cross-examination :: n. the opportunity for the attorney (or an unrepre ... examination testimony trial witness
cruelty :: n. the intentional and malicious infliction of phy ... ruel and unusual punishment divorce
diminished capacity :: n. essentially a psychological term which has foun ... See also: insanity M'Naughten rule
depose :: v. 1) to ask questions of a witness or a party to ... tion. See also: deponent deposition
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness