Dictionary of Law
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witness stand :: legal definition


Witness stand - n. a chair at the end of the judge's bench on the jury box side, usually with a low "modesty screen," where a witness sits and gives testimony after he/she has sworn to tell the truth. When called to testify the witness "takes the stand." Most witness stands are equipped with a microphone linked to an amplifying system so that judge, attorneys and jury can hear the testimony clearly.

See also: witness and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

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
adverse witness :: n. a witness in a trial who is found by the judge ... r the opposition. See also: witness
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
credibility :: n. whether testimony is worthy of belief, based on ... jective. See also: credible witness
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
direct examination :: n. the first questioning of a witness during a tri ... nation deposition testimony witness
directed verdict :: n. a verdict by a jury based on the specific direc ... element judgment jury trial verdict
evidence :: n. every type of proof legally presented at trial ... material object objection relevant
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
fact finder (finder of fact) :: n. in a trial of a lawsuit or criminal prosecution ... n facts. See also: question of fact
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
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
hostile witness :: n. technically an "adverse witness" in a trial who ... so: adverse witness leading witness
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
judgment notwithstanding the verdict :: (N.O.V.) n. reversal of a jury's verdict by the tr ... veredicto. See also: N.O.V. verdict
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
lay a foundation :: v. in evidence, to provide to the judge the qualif ... ce and training. See also: evidence
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 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
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
preponderance of the evidence :: n. the greater weight of the evidence required in ... what subjective. See also: evidence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
refresh one's memory :: v. to use a document, exhibit or previous testimon ... it is genuine). See also: testimony
rogatory letters :: n. a written request by a judge to a judge in anot ... also: deposition testimony witness
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
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
sequester :: v. to keep separate or apart. In so-called "high-p ... of others. See also: sequestration
specific finding :: n. a decision on a fact made by a jury in its verd ... so forth. See also: special verdict
strike :: 1) v. to remove a statement from the record of the ... ing the business, factory or store.
subpena :: (subpoena): (suh-pea-nah) n. an order of the court ... ubpena duces tecum subpoena witness
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

Popular Law Searches

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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.
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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 - W

waive :: v. to voluntarily give up something, including not ... the other state). See also: waiver
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive
wanton :: adj. 1) grossly negligent to the extent of being r ... sexually immoral and unrestrained.
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
warranty :: n. a written statement of good quality of merchand ... of the contract. See also: warrant
warranty deed :: n. a deed to real property which guarantees that t ... : grant deed quitclaim deed warrant
waste :: n. 1) any damage to real property by a tenant whic ... ch may include poisonous effluents.
watered stock :: n. shares of stock of a corporation which have bee ... . See also: corporation share stock
weight of evidence :: n. the strength, value and believability of eviden ... dence preponderance of the evidence
wet reckless :: n. a plea to a charge of reckless driving which wa ... conviction. See also: plea bargain
whiplash :: n. a common neck and/or back injury suffered in au ... r damages due to negligent driving.
white collar crime :: n. a generic term for crimes involving commercial ... committed by "blue collar" workers.
widow :: n. a woman whose husband died while she was marrie ... nefits traceable to the ex-husband.
widower :: n. a man whose wife died while he was married to h ... d to her and who has not remarried.
widow's election :: n. the choice a widow makes between accepting what ... nt and distribution succession will
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator
will contest :: n. a lawsuit challenging the validity of a will an ... so: in terrorem clause probate will
willful :: adj. referring to acts which are intentional, cons ... r was willful." See also: willfully
willfully :: adv. referring to doing something intentionally, p ... on the property." See also: willful