| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | acquittal | finding of not guilty |
| 2. | actus reus | criminal act or omission |
| 3. | adjournment | temporary suspension of proceedings |
| 4. | adjudication | formal legal resolution of dispute |
| 5. | affidavit | written sworn statement |
| 6. | alibi | claim of being elsewhere |
| 7. | answer | formal response to complaint |
| 8. | appeal | request for higher court review |
| 9. | arraignment | first court appearance on charges |
| 10. | bail | temporary release pending trial |
| 11. | bond | financial guarantee for release |
| 12. | brief | written legal argument |
| 13. | burden of proof | duty to prove a claim |
| 14. | complaint | initial document stating claims |
| 15. | consent | agreement given freely |
| 16. | constitution | fundamental law of a state |
| 17. | contempt | disrespect or disobedience to court |
| 18. | continuance | postponement of a court proceeding |
| 19. | contract | legally enforceable agreement |
| 20. | conviction | finding of guilt |
| 21. | crime | act punishable by law |
| 22. | cross-examination | questioning by opposing side |
| 23. | custody | detention or legal care |
| 24. | damages | money awarded for loss |
| 25. | deposition | sworn out-of-court testimony |
| 26. | detention | holding someone in custody |
| 27. | discovery | pretrial exchange of information |
| 28. | dismissal | ending a case without trial |
| 29. | disposition | final outcome of a case |
| 30. | docket | court’s schedule or case list |
| 31. | due process | fair legal procedure required |
| 32. | duress | coercion by threat or pressure |
| 33. | evidence | information used to prove facts |
| 34. | exhibit | document or object shown as evidence |
| 35. | expungement | erasure of a legal record |
| 36. | felony | serious criminal offense |
| 37. | fine | money penalty imposed by court |
| 38. | forfeiture | loss of property as penalty |
| 39. | fraud | intentional deception for gain |
| 40. | habeas corpus | challenge to unlawful detention |
| 41. | hearing | court proceeding to examine issues |
| 42. | hearsay | out-of-court statement offered as proof |
| 43. | immunity | protection from legal liability |
| 44. | in camera | held privately in judge’s chambers |
| 45. | indictment | formal criminal charge |
| 46. | injunction | court order to do or stop |
| 47. | judgment | court’s final decision |
| 48. | jurisdiction | legal authority over a case |
| 49. | justiciable | fit for court decision |
| 50. | leniency | less severe treatment or punishment |
| 51. | levy | legal seizure to satisfy debt |
| 52. | liability | legal responsibility for harm |
| 53. | lien | legal claim on property |
| 54. | mandate | authoritative command from a court |
| 55. | mens rea | criminal intent or guilty mind |
| 56. | misdemeanor | less serious criminal offense |
| 57. | mitigation | circumstances reducing blame or punishment |
| 58. | motion | formal request to the court |
| 59. | negligence | failure to use due care |
| 60. | nolo contendere | plea of no contest |
| 61. | oath | solemn promise to tell truth |
| 62. | objection | formal protest in court |
| 63. | offense | violation of criminal law |
| 64. | order | direction issued by a court |
| 65. | parole | conditional release from prison |
| 66. | perjury | lying under oath |
| 67. | petition | formal written request |
| 68. | plea | defendant’s formal response to charges |
| 69. | pleading | formal written court statement |
| 70. | precedent | earlier case guiding later decisions |
| 71. | probable cause | reasonable grounds for belief |
| 72. | probation | supervised release instead of prison |
| 73. | reasonable doubt | standard for criminal conviction |
| 74. | record | official account of proceedings |
| 75. | recusal | judge’s withdrawal from a case |
| 76. | release | letting someone go from custody |
| 77. | remand | send back into custody |
| 78. | respondent | person answering a petition |
| 79. | restitution | payment to compensate a victim |
| 80. | ruling | judge’s decision on a point |
| 81. | sentence | court’s punishment for a crime |
| 82. | service | formal delivery of legal papers |
| 83. | settlement | agreement resolving a dispute |
| 84. | standing | right to bring a case |
| 85. | statute | written law passed by legislature |
| 86. | stay | temporary halt of proceedings |
| 87. | subpoena | order to attend or produce evidence |
| 88. | summons | order to appear in court |
| 89. | testimony | spoken evidence under oath |
| 90. | tort | civil wrong causing harm |
| 91. | transcript | written record of spoken proceedings |
| 92. | trial | formal examination in court |
| 93. | uphold | confirm a lower court decision |
| 94. | vacate | set aside a judgment |
| 95. | venue | proper geographic place for trial |
| 96. | verdict | formal decision on the facts |
| 97. | voir dire | questioning prospective jurors |
| 98. | waiver | intentional giving up of right |
| 99. | warrant | official authorization for arrest or search |
| 100. | witness | person giving evidence |