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: 127
special verdict :: n. the jury's decisions or findings of fact with t ... utation. See also: specific finding
verdict :: n. the decision of a jury after a trial, which mus ... nt quotient verdict special verdict
directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict
compromise verdict :: n. a decision made by a jury in which the jurors s ... ning the verdict. See also: verdict
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
special circumstances :: n. in criminal cases, particularly homicides, acti ... urant. See also: capital punishment
special master :: n. a person appointed by the court to carry out an ... ting to the judge. See also: master
judgment notwithstanding the verdict :: (N.O.V.) n. reversal of a jury's verdict by the tr ... veredicto. See also: N.O.V. verdict
special damages :: n. damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit whi ... . See also: damages general damages
partial verdict :: n. in a criminal trial, the result when the jury f ... re other charges. See also: verdict
quotient verdict :: n. an award of money damages set by a jury in a la ... rial motion for a new trial verdict
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
special :: adj. referring to a particular purpose, person or ... rator, master, orders and so forth.
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
prayer :: n. the specific request for judgment, relief and/o ... ee also: complaint default judgment
living trust :: n. sometimes called an inter vivos (Latin for "wit ... thrift clause trust trustee trustor
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice
presiding judge :: n. 1) in both state and federal appeals court, the ... and chairs meetings of the judges.
privilege :: n. a special benefit, exemption from a duty, or im ... rson, a group or a class of people.
records :: n. in business, particularly corporations, all the ... s to the "records" of the business.
prosecutor :: n. generic term for the government's attorney in a ... ee also: Attorney General prosecute
property tax :: n. an annual governmental tax on real property or ... are made. See also: ad valorem tax
professional corporation :: n. a corporation formed for the purpose of conduct ... rofessionals. See also: corporation
master :: n. 1) employer, in the area of law known as "maste ... ter and servant respondeat superior
mediator :: n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is ... o: arbitration arbitrator mediation
paralegal :: n. a non-lawyer who performs routine tasks requiri ... h less than that for the attorneys.
of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence.
pain and suffering :: n. the physical and mental distress suffered from ... l damages special damages suffering
panderer :: n. 1) a person who panders or solicits for a prost ... special interests. See also: pander
merchantable :: adj. a product of a high enough quality to make it ... taminated or flawed. See also: sale
regulations :: n. rules and administrative codes issued by govern ... es usually have similar procedures.
personal services :: n. in contract law, the talents of a person which ... his/her unique ability and product.
patent :: 1) adj. obvious. Used in such expressions as a "pa ... patent infringement patent pending
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
pander :: 1) v. to solicit customers for a prostitute. 2) n. ... ons or favors. See also: prostitute
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
acquittal :: n. what an accused criminal defendant receives if ... se) of not guilty. See also: acquit
acquit :: v. what a jury or judge sitting without a jury doe ... ndant not guilty. See also: verdict
not guilty by reason of insanity :: n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime ... fense not guilty temporary insanity
words of art :: n. 1) specialized language with meaning peculiar t ... cialize in a particular occupation.
closing argument :: n. the final argument by an attorney on behalf of ... . See also: opening statement trial
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial
motion for a new trial :: n. a request made by the loser for the case to be ... hstanding the verdict motion N.O.V.
hung jury :: n. slang for a hopelessly deadlocked jury in a cri ... also: dismissal jury mistrial trial
N.O.V. :: adj. shorthand acronym of Latin for non obstante v ... notwithstanding the verdict verdic
trade :: 1) n. a business or occupation for profit, particu ... rade fixture trade secret trademark
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
slander :: n. oral defamation, in which someone tells one or ... . See also: defamation fair comment
moral certainty :: n. in a criminal trial, the reasonable belief (but ... : beyond a reasonable doubt verdict
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
residence :: n. 1) the place where one makes his/her home. Howe ... f incorporation. See also: resident
solicitor :: n. an English attorney who may perform all legal s ... s or barristers. See also: attorney
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
retire :: v. 1) to stop working at one's occupation. 2) to p ... y instructions have been completed.
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
reports :: n. the published decisions of appeals courts in al ... ilable in almost all law libraries.
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
change of circumstances :: n. the principal reason for a court modifying (ame ... ild support divorce spousal support
child support :: n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to ... ild custody divorce spousal support
case :: n. short for a cause of action, lawsuit, or the ri ... ny, the court stated the rule as:."
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
basis :: n. the original cost of an asset to be used to det ... ssistance. See also: adjusted basis
commission :: n. 1) a fee paid based on a percentage of the sale ... on or the Federal Trade Commission.
compensatory damages :: n. damages recovered in payment for actual injury ... es punitive damages special damages
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
court of law :: n. any tribunal within a judicial system. Under En ... aw. See also: chancery court equity
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
conscious parallelism :: n. an undiscussed imitation by a business of a com ... cidence? No, conscious parallelism.
condominium :: n. title to a unit of real property which, in real ... ium projects. See also: common area
conjugal rights :: n. a spouse's so-called "rights" to the comforts a ... r") in a special room or apartment.
bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
affirmative action :: n. the process of a business or governmental agenc ... and state affirmative action laws.
American Bar Association :: n. the largest organization of American lawyers, w ... go, IL 60611; tel.: (312) 988-5522.
admission against interest :: n. an admission of the truth of a fact by any pers ... earsay. See also: admission hearsay
admiralty :: n. concerning activities which occur at sea, inclu ... "proctors." See also: maritime law
ad hoc :: adj. Latin shorthand meaning "for this purpose onl ... pecially able to argue a key point.
administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
attorney-in-fact :: n. someone specifically named by another through a ... cument. See also: power of attorney
bail bondsman :: n. a professional agent for an insurance company w ... t to jail. See also: bail bail bond
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
appraiser :: n. a professional who makes appraisals of the valu ... isal Institute). See also: appraise
arm's length :: adj. the description of an agreement made by two p ... th" transaction. See also: contract
court-martial :: 1) n. a military court for trying offenses in viol ... the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
criminal attorney :: n. a popular term for an attorney who specializes ... . See also: crime felon misdemeanor
jobber :: n. a merchant who buys products (usually in bulk o ... buys and acts for specific clients.
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
income tax :: n. a tax on an individual's net income, after dedu ... al government. See also: income tax
infringement :: n. 1) a trespassing or illegal entering. 2) in the ... patent plagiarism royalty trademark
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising.
legalese :: n. slang for the sometimes arcane, convoluted and ... rgon of lawyers and legal scholars.
law and motion calendar :: n. a court calendar in which only motions and spec ... special legal arguments are heard.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
expert testimony :: n. opinions stated during trial or deposition (tes ... inal case. See also: expert witness
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
disability :: n. 1) a condition which prevents one from performi ... ct, or being insane or incompetent.
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
defamation :: n. the act of making untrue statements about anoth ... comment libel public figure slander
expert witness :: n. a person who is a specialist in a subject, ofte ... sitions. See also: expert testimony
fact finder (finder of fact) :: n. in a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution ... n facts. See also: question of fact
general damages :: n. monetary recovery (money won) in a lawsuit for ... s exemplary damages special damages
gross negligence :: n. carelessness which is in reckless disregard for ... damages negligence punitive damages
general appearance :: n. an attorney's representation of a client in cou ... case. See also: special appearance
franchise :: 1) n. a right granted by the government to a perso ... on property, income or profits tax.
federal courts :: n. the court system which handles civil and crimin ... rans' appeals. See also: bankruptcy
forensic testimony :: n. any testimony of expert scientific, engineering ... ee also: forensic forensic medicine
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent