| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | acquittal | finding of not guilty |
| 2. | actus reus | criminal guilty act |
| 3. | affidavit | written sworn statement |
| 4. | affirmance | upholding lower court decision |
| 5. | alibi | claim of being elsewhere |
| 6. | answer | response to a complaint |
| 7. | appeal | request for higher review |
| 8. | arraignment | first court appearance on charges |
| 9. | bail | money securing release |
| 10. | bailiff | courtroom security officer |
| 11. | beneficiary | person receiving legal benefit |
| 12. | bias | unfair preference or prejudice |
| 13. | brief | written legal argument |
| 14. | burden of proof | duty to prove claims |
| 15. | citation | reference to legal authority |
| 16. | clerk | court administrative officer |
| 17. | complaint | initial civil pleading |
| 18. | contempt | disrespecting court authority |
| 19. | continuance | postponement of proceedings |
| 20. | conviction | finding of guilt |
| 21. | counsel | lawyer in a case |
| 22. | cross-examination | questioning opposing witness |
| 23. | damages | money awarded for harm |
| 24. | default judgment | judgment for no response |
| 25. | defendant | person accused or sued |
| 26. | deposition | sworn out-of-court testimony |
| 27. | dictum | nonbinding judicial remark |
| 28. | discovery | pretrial exchange of information |
| 29. | dismissal | ending a case |
| 30. | docket | court’s case schedule |
| 31. | entrapment | inducement by law enforcement |
| 32. | equal protection | equal treatment under law |
| 33. | estate | property left by deceased |
| 34. | evidence | proof presented in court |
| 35. | exhibit | document or object shown |
| 36. | expert witness | specialist giving opinion evidence |
| 37. | extradition | transfer for prosecution elsewhere |
| 38. | felony | serious criminal offense |
| 39. | fine | monetary punishment |
| 40. | foreclosure | forced sale for debt |
| 41. | guardian ad litem | court-appointed child representative |
| 42. | guilty plea | admission of criminal responsibility |
| 43. | habeas corpus | challenge to unlawful detention |
| 44. | hearsay | out-of-court statement offered |
| 45. | holding | court’s legal ruling |
| 46. | hung jury | jury unable to agree |
| 47. | immunity | protection from liability or prosecution |
| 48. | inadmissible | not allowed as evidence |
| 49. | indictment | formal criminal charge |
| 50. | injunction | court order to do or stop |
| 51. | injury | harm recognized by law |
| 52. | joinder | combining parties or claims |
| 53. | jurisdiction | court’s legal authority |
| 54. | juror | member of a jury |
| 55. | liability | legal responsibility for harm |
| 56. | lien | legal claim on property |
| 57. | malice | wrongful intent to harm |
| 58. | mens rea | criminal guilty mind |
| 59. | misdemeanor | less serious criminal offense |
| 60. | mistrial | trial ended without verdict |
| 61. | mitigation | fact reducing blame |
| 62. | mootness | no live dispute remains |
| 63. | motion | formal request to court |
| 64. | negligence | failure to use due care |
| 65. | nolo contendere | no contest plea |
| 66. | objection | challenge to courtroom procedure |
| 67. | opinion | judge’s written reasoning |
| 68. | perjury | lying under oath |
| 69. | plaintiff | person bringing civil suit |
| 70. | plea | defendant’s formal response |
| 71. | precedent | earlier case guiding decisions |
| 72. | privilege | right to withhold communications |
| 73. | probable cause | reasonable basis for belief |
| 74. | probation | supervised release instead of prison |
| 75. | prosecutor | lawyer for the government |
| 76. | reasonable doubt | high standard for conviction |
| 77. | record | official case materials |
| 78. | recusal | judge’s withdrawal from case |
| 79. | remand | send case back |
| 80. | restitution | repayment to victim |
| 81. | reversal | overturning lower court decision |
| 82. | ripeness | ready for judicial review |
| 83. | sanction | penalty for misconduct |
| 84. | self-incrimination | exposing oneself to criminal blame |
| 85. | settlement | agreement ending dispute |
| 86. | standing | right to sue |
| 87. | statute | written law enacted |
| 88. | stipulation | agreed fact or procedure |
| 89. | subpoena | order to appear or produce |
| 90. | summary judgment | decision without full trial |
| 91. | testimony | spoken evidence under oath |
| 92. | tort | civil wrong causing harm |
| 93. | transcript | written record of proceedings |
| 94. | trustee | person managing trust property |
| 95. | venue | proper place for trial |
| 96. | verdict | formal decision by jury |
| 97. | voir dire | jury selection questioning |
| 98. | waiver | voluntary surrender of right |
| 99. | warrant | judicial authorization to act |
| 100. | witness | person giving evidence |