| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | acquittal | finding of not guilty |
| 2. | admissibility | fitness for evidence admission |
| 3. | affidavit | written sworn statement |
| 4. | alibi | claim of being elsewhere |
| 5. | appeal | request for higher court review |
| 6. | arraignment | first court appearance on charges |
| 7. | attorney | licensed legal representative |
| 8. | authentication | proof item is genuine |
| 9. | bail | money securing release pending trial |
| 10. | bailiff | court officer maintaining order |
| 11. | brief | written legal argument |
| 12. | burden of proof | duty to prove a claim |
| 13. | charge | formal accusation of wrongdoing |
| 14. | clerk | court official handling records |
| 15. | complaint | document starting a lawsuit |
| 16. | contempt | disrespect or disobedience to court |
| 17. | continuance | postponement of a proceeding |
| 18. | contract | binding legal agreement |
| 19. | conviction | finding of criminal guilt |
| 20. | counsel | lawyer representing a party |
| 21. | cross-examination | questioning by opposing counsel |
| 22. | damages | money awarded for harm |
| 23. | default | failure to respond or appear |
| 24. | defendant | party accused or sued |
| 25. | deposition | sworn out-of-court testimony |
| 26. | dicta | nonbinding judicial comments |
| 27. | direct examination | questioning by calling counsel |
| 28. | discovery | pretrial exchange of information |
| 29. | dismissal | termination of a case |
| 30. | dissent | disagreement with majority opinion |
| 31. | docket | court’s schedule of cases |
| 32. | estoppel | bar from contradicting earlier conduct |
| 33. | evidence | proof presented to establish facts |
| 34. | exhibit | document or object offered as evidence |
| 35. | felony | serious criminal offense |
| 36. | filing | submitting documents to court |
| 37. | foundation | basic proof supporting admission |
| 38. | habeas corpus | challenge to unlawful detention |
| 39. | hearing | court proceeding on a matter |
| 40. | hearsay | secondhand statement offered as evidence |
| 41. | holding | court’s legal determination |
| 42. | hung jury | jury unable to reach verdict |
| 43. | impeachment | attack on witness credibility |
| 44. | indictment | formal criminal charge |
| 45. | injunction | court order to do or stop |
| 46. | intent | purpose to do an act |
| 47. | interrogatory | written question answered under oath |
| 48. | judge | official presiding over court |
| 49. | judgment | final court decision |
| 50. | jurisdiction | court’s legal authority |
| 51. | jury | citizens deciding facts of case |
| 52. | laches | delay harming a legal claim |
| 53. | liability | legal responsibility for harm |
| 54. | majority opinion | main opinion of the court |
| 55. | mandamus | order commanding official action |
| 56. | misdemeanor | less serious criminal offense |
| 57. | mistrial | trial ended without valid verdict |
| 58. | motion | formal request to the court |
| 59. | negligence | failure to use reasonable care |
| 60. | notice | formal information about legal action |
| 61. | oath | solemn promise to tell truth |
| 62. | objection | formal protest to evidence or procedure |
| 63. | opinion | judge’s written explanation of decision |
| 64. | order | authoritative direction from the court |
| 65. | overrule | reject an objection or argument |
| 66. | petition | formal written request |
| 67. | plaintiff | party bringing a civil case |
| 68. | plea | defendant’s formal response to charge |
| 69. | pleading | formal written statement of claims |
| 70. | precedent | earlier case guiding later decisions |
| 71. | privilege | right to withhold certain communications |
| 72. | prosecutor | lawyer bringing criminal charges |
| 73. | proximate cause | legally sufficient cause of harm |
| 74. | record | official account of proceedings |
| 75. | relevance | logical connection to the case |
| 76. | relief | court-awarded remedy or help |
| 77. | remand | send back for further action |
| 78. | remedy | means of enforcing a right |
| 79. | res judicata | claim already finally decided |
| 80. | retrial | new trial of the case |
| 81. | ruling | judge’s official decision |
| 82. | sanction | penalty for misconduct or violation |
| 83. | sentence | punishment imposed after conviction |
| 84. | settlement | agreement resolving a dispute |
| 85. | standard of proof | level of certainty required |
| 86. | standing | right to bring a lawsuit |
| 87. | statute | written law enacted by legislature |
| 88. | stipulation | agreed fact or procedure |
| 89. | subpoena | order requiring appearance or evidence |
| 90. | summons | official notice to appear |
| 91. | testimony | spoken evidence under oath |
| 92. | tort | civil wrong causing harm |
| 93. | transcript | written record of spoken proceedings |
| 94. | trial | formal court examination of issues |
| 95. | venue | proper geographic place for trial |
| 96. | verdict | formal decision by a jury |
| 97. | voir dire | jury selection questioning |
| 98. | waiver | intentional giving up of a right |
| 99. | witness | person giving evidence in court |
| 100. | writ | formal written court order |