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: 79
star chamber proceedings :: n. any judicial or quasi-judicial action, trial or ... ate 1960s. See also: kangaroo court
bankruptcy proceedings :: n. the bankruptcy procedure is: a) filing a petiti ... ankruptcy court claim in bankruptcy
in chambers :: adj. referring to discussions or hearings held in ... ed "in camera." See also: in camera
chambers :: n. the private office of a judge, usually close to ... s." See also: in camera in chambers
kangaroo court :: n. 1) a mock court set up without legal basis, suc ... See also: star chamber proceedings
minutes :: n. 1) the written record of meetings, particularly ... court reporter if recorded at all.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
stare decisis :: : (stah-ree duh-sigh-sis) n. Latin for "to stand b ... pellate court lower court precedent
judicial proceedings :: n. any action by a judge re: trials, hearings, pet ... efore the court. See also: judicial
default :: 1) n. failure to respond to a summons and complain ... default judgment notice of default
open court :: n. the conduct of judicial proceedings (trials, he ... which are usually held in chambers.
debtor :: n. 1) a person or entity that owes an amount of mo ... the "debtor." See also: bankruptcy
competent :: adj. 1) in general, able to act in the circumstanc ... all bases. See also: evidence will
claim in bankruptcy :: n. the written claim filed by persons or businesse ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
custody :: n. 1) holding property under one's control. 2) law ... inor child. See also: child custody
confession of judgment :: n. a written agreement in which the defendant in a ... rms are fulfilled by the defendant.
adjudication :: n. the act of giving a judicial ruling such as a j ... adjudication. See also: bankruptcy
in camera :: adj. or adv. phrase. Latin for "in chambers." This ... he courtroom. See also: in chambers
cruel and unusual punishment :: n. governmental penalties against convicted crimin ... opted. See also: capital punishment
motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
arbitration :: n. a mini-trial, which may be for a lawsuit ready ... tance of the arbitrator's decision.
bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
domicile :: n. the place where a person has his/her permanent ... where its headquarters is located.
recess :: n. a break in a trial or other court proceedings o ... t," which winds up the proceedings.
proceeding :: n. any legal filing, hearing, trial and/or judgmen ... edings," as in "legal proceedings."
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
record :: 1) v. (ree-cored) to put a document into the offic ... eeding race to the courthouse trial
special :: adj. referring to a particular purpose, person or ... rator, master, orders and so forth.
transcript :: n. the written record of all proceedings, includin ... unless transcription is requested.
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
stay :: n. a court-ordered short-term delay in judicial pr ... r case. See also: stay of execution
notice of default :: n. a notice to a borrower with property as securit ... notice of default. See also: notice
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
full faith and credit :: n. the provision in Article IV, Section 1 of the U ... "foreign" (out-of-state) judgment.
equity of redemption :: n. the right of a mortgagor (person owing on a loa ... so: foreclosure mortgage redemption
deceased :: 1) adj. dead. 2) n. the person who has died, as us ... ore genteel word is the "decedent."
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
judicial foreclosure :: n. a judgment by a court in favor of foreclosure o ... deed of trust foreclosure mortgage
debtor in possession :: n. in bankruptcy proceedings when a debtor has fil ... n possession." See also: bankruptcy
unlawful assembly :: n. the act of assembling for the purpose of starti ... gton and Chicago in the late 1960s.
forgery :: n. 1) the crime of creating a false document, alte ... See also: counterfeit forger fraud
fair use :: n. the non-competitive right to use of copyrighted ... for a royalty. See also: copyright
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
inchoate :: adj. or adv. referring to something which has begu ... ract which has not been formalized.
intervening cause :: n. an event which occurs between the original impr ... cause negligence superseding cause
intervene :: v. to obtain the court's permission to enter into ... ntion joinder multiplicity of suits
innocent :: adj. without guilt (not guilty). Usually the plea ... also: arraignment plea plea bargain
exchange :: 1) v. to trade or barter property, goods and/or se ... ins tax. See also: delayed exchange
delayed exchange :: n. an exchange of property to put off capital gain ... method and survived an IRS lawsuit.
comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
cause :: from Latin causa 1) v. to make something happen. 2 ... so: cause of action proximate cause
articles of incorporation :: n. the basic charter of a corporation which spells ... year's taxes. See also: corporation
confidential relation :: n. a relationship in which one person has confiden ... remely obvious. See also: fiduciary
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
cruelty :: n. the intentional and malicious infliction of phy ... ruel and unusual punishment divorce
Jane Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible female ... lso: fictitious defendants John Doe
John Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible male d ... lso: fictitious defendants Jane Doe
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
summary adjudication of issues :: n. a court order ruling that certain factual issue ... is made. See also: summary judgment
subrogation :: n. assuming the legal rights of a person for whom ... also: negligence subrogee subrogor
superseding cause :: n. the same as an "intervening cause" or "superven ... : intervening cause proximate cause
time served :: n. the period a criminal defendant has been in jai ... o the defendant. See also: sentence
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
spontaneous exclamation :: n. a sudden statement caused by the speaker having ... et hit the girl." See also: hearsay
sine qua non :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.
motion in limine :: (lim-in-nay) n. Latin for "threshold," a motion ma ... o: in limine Miranda warning motion
mistrial :: n. the termination of a trial before its normal co ... from the beginning. See also: trial
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
prayer :: n. the specific request for judgment, relief and/o ... ee also: complaint default judgment
precedent :: 1) n. a prior reported opinion of an appeals court ... to perform. See also: stare decisis
remote :: adj., adv. extremely far off or slight. Evidence m ... ee also: immaterial proximate cause
public figure :: n. in the law of defamation (libel and slander), a ... See also: defamation libel slander
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense