WordVale

Law & Justice

100 words and expressions, each with a learner-friendly meaning. Tap any term for its page.

• plaintiffthe person who brings a case against another in court
• defendantthe person accused or sued in a court case
• torta wrongful act leading to civil legal liability
• subpoenaan order requiring someone to attend court or produce evidence
• affidavita written statement confirmed by oath for use as evidence
• injunctiona court order requiring someone to do or stop doing something
• depositionsworn out-of-court testimony recorded for later use
• indictmenta formal charge accusing someone of a serious crime
• arraignmenta court hearing where charges are read and a plea entered
• acquittala judgment that a person is not guilty
• appellaterelating to courts that review decisions of lower courts
• damagesmoney awarded as compensation for loss or injury
• deeda signed legal document, especially transferring property
• docketthe schedule of cases awaiting court action
• easementa right to use another person's land for a specific purpose
• felonya serious crime, typically punishable by over a year in prison
• misdemeanora minor criminal offense with lighter punishment
• garnishmentwithholding wages by court order to pay a debt
• habeas corpusa court order protecting against unlawful detention
• hearsaysecondhand testimony, usually inadmissible as evidence
• jurisdictiona court's authority to hear and decide cases
• litigationthe process of taking a dispute through the courts
• negligencefailure to take reasonable care, causing harm
• perjurylying under oath
• plea bargainagreeing to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge
• precedentan earlier decision that guides future similar cases
• probatethe legal process of validating and executing a will
• pro bonolegal work done free of charge for the public good
• prosecutionthe party conducting a criminal case against the accused
• remandto send a case back to a lower court, or hold in custody
• restitutioncompensation paid to restore what was lost or taken
• statutea written law passed by a legislature
• testimonya formal statement given by a witness
• verdictthe decision of a jury or judge in a trial
• waivervoluntarily giving up a legal right or claim
• arbitrationsettling a dispute through a neutral third party outside court
• breachthe breaking of a law, agreement, or duty
• class actiona lawsuit filed by a group with the same complaint
• due processfair legal procedures that the state must follow
• liabilitylegal responsibility for one's acts or debts
• alibiproof of being elsewhere when a crime occurred
• amnestyan official pardon for a group of offenders
• bailmoney deposited to release an accused person before trial
• the barthe legal profession, or qualification to practice law
• bylawa rule made by a local authority or organization
• contempt of courtdisobedience or disrespect toward a court
• counsela lawyer or team of lawyers conducting a case
• custodyprotective care or imprisonment; also guardianship of a child
• defamationdamaging someone's reputation with false statements
• disbarto expel a lawyer from the profession
• discoverythe pre-trial exchange of evidence between parties
• dissenta judge's formal disagreement with the majority ruling
• embezzlementstealing funds placed in one's trust
• entrapmentinducing someone to commit a crime they wouldn't have committed
• exhibita document or object produced as evidence in court
• extraditionhanding over an accused person to another jurisdiction
• frauddeception intended to result in unlawful gain
• grand jurya jury deciding whether charges should be brought
• immunitylegal protection from prosecution or liability
• inadmissiblenot allowed to be used as evidence in court
• indemnifyto compensate someone for harm or protect against loss
• intestatehaving died without leaving a valid will
• jurisprudencethe theory and philosophy of law
• lawsuita claim brought to a court for resolution
• libeldefamation in written or published form
• malpracticeprofessional negligence causing harm to a client or patient
• mistriala trial invalidated by a fundamental error
• notaryan official who authenticates documents and signatures
• paralegala trained assistant who supports lawyers
• paroleearly supervised release from prison
• power of attorneylegal authority to act on another's behalf
• settlementresolving a dispute by agreement before judgment
• slanderdefamation in spoken form
• solicitora lawyer who advises clients and prepares cases
• summonsan official order to appear in court
• tribunala body established to settle particular kinds of disputes
• trusteea person who manages property for another's benefit
• burden of proofthe obligation to prove one's claim in court
• cross-examinationquestioning the other side's witness at trial
• exonerateto officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing
• adjudicateto make a formal judgment on a disputed matter
• amicus curiaean outside party allowed to advise the court
• bailiffan officer who keeps order in a courtroom
• codicilan addition or supplement that modifies a will
• collusionsecret cooperation to deceive or commit fraud
• culpabledeserving blame; legally responsible for wrongdoing
• disclosurethe act of making information known, as required by law
• estoppela bar preventing someone from contradicting a prior position
• expungeto erase a conviction from a legal record
• forensicrelating to scientific methods used to investigate crime
• injunctive reliefa court order requiring or forbidding an action
• interrogatorya formal written question that must be answered under oath
• moothaving no practical significance; already resolved
• plaintiff's barthe community of lawyers who represent plaintiffs
• recuseto withdraw from a case due to a conflict of interest
• redresscompensation or remedy for a wrong
• stipulationan agreement between parties on a point of fact
• sua spontean action taken by a court on its own initiative
• tortfeasora person who commits a civil wrong
• ultra viresbeyond the legal power or authority of a person or body