Vocabulary Terms

• Affidavit 


  A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.
• Arraignment


  A court proceeding where a criminal defendant is brought before the court, informed of the charges against them, and asked to plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
• Autopsy


  Detailed medical examination, and/or dissection of a dead body to determine the cause of death, or for any scientific and medical purpose.
• Bail


  An amount of money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial.
• Booking


  Process after arrest; mugshot, finger prints, background check, vital information, etc.
• Closing Argument


  A closing argument is a lawyer's final chance to convince a judge or jury to rule in their favor during a trial. It's also known as a closing statement, final argument, summation, or summing-up.
• Felony


  A felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for at least one year or by the death penalty. 
• Cross Examination

   The formal questioning of a witness called by the other party in a trial to challenge the testimony the witness has already given.
• Defendant


  An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed. In a criminal case, it is the person accused of the crime.
• Direct Examination


  The initial questioning of a witness, by the party that called them to the stand. Leading questions are not allowed during direct examination unless an exception applies.
• Evidence


  an item or information proffered to make the existence of a fact more or less probable.
• Homicide


  the killing of one human being by another. 
• Double Jeopardy 


  In the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution, it prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same crime.
• Indictment


  A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
• First Degree Murder


  Any intentional murder that is willful and premeditated with malice aforethought.
• Objection


  Formal protest raised by a party or counsel.
• Objection Overruled


  In the judge's opinion, the lawyer's objection is not well taken under the rules of law. The judge's ruling, so far as a juror is concerned, is final and may not be questioned by him/her.
• Objection Sustained


  the judge agrees that, under the rules of the law, the lawyer's objection was well taken.
• Opening Statement


  factual statements made by attorneys/witnesses to explain the case.
• Perjury


  knowingly making a false statement under oath or knowingly signing a legal document that is false or includes false statements.
• Probable Cause


  sufficient reason based upon known facts to believe a crime has been committed or that certain property is connected with a crime.
• Reasonable Doubt


  when you are not firmly convinced of the Defendant's guilt, after you have weighed and considered all the evidence. 
• Manslaughter


  the act of killing another human being without malice.
• Subpoena


  a written order to compel an individual to give testimony on a particular subject, often before a court, but sometimes in other proceedings.  
• Testimony


  oral or written evidence given by the witness under oath, affidavit, or deposition during a trial or other legal procedures.
• Verdict


  the formal decision or judgment rendered by a court at the conclusion of a trial or legal proceeding.
• Second Degree Murder


  typically murder with malicious intent but not planned ahead of time.
• Grand Jury


  a group of people selected to sit on a jury that decide whether the prosecutor's evidence provides probable cause to issue an indictment.
• Habeas Corpus


  "You have the body." It protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Federal courts can use the writ of habeas corpus to determine if a state's detention of a prisoner is valid.
• Misdemeanor


  Typically a crime punishable by less than 12 months in jail. Community service, probation, fines, and imprisonment for less than a year are commonly issued punishments.