| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | acquittal | finding of not guilty |
| 2. | actus reus | guilty physical act |
| 3. | affidavit | written sworn statement |
| 4. | alibi | claim of being elsewhere |
| 5. | appeal | request to review a decision |
| 6. | arraignment | first court appearance on charges |
| 7. | arrest | taking someone into legal custody |
| 8. | attempt | unsuccessful effort to commit crime |
| 9. | bail | money for release before trial |
| 10. | bench trial | trial decided by judge alone |
| 11. | burden of proof | duty to prove a claim |
| 12. | charge | formal accusation of wrongdoing |
| 13. | client | person represented by lawyer |
| 14. | co-defendant | another accused person in case |
| 15. | coercion | pressure forcing someone to act |
| 16. | complaint | document starting a criminal case |
| 17. | continuance | postponement of a court proceeding |
| 18. | conviction | finding of guilt |
| 19. | counsel | lawyer in a case |
| 20. | count | separate accusation in a case |
| 21. | cross-examination | questioning by opposing lawyer |
| 22. | defendant | person accused in court |
| 23. | defense | side opposing the charge |
| 24. | deliberation | jury discussion before verdict |
| 25. | detainer | request to hold a person |
| 26. | discovery | pretrial exchange of information |
| 27. | dismissal | ending a case or charge |
| 28. | double jeopardy | second prosecution for same offense |
| 29. | due process | fair legal procedures required |
| 30. | duress | crime committed under threat |
| 31. | enhancement | increase in sentence severity |
| 32. | entrapment | induced by police to offend |
| 33. | evidence | information used to prove facts |
| 34. | exclusionary rule | bars illegally obtained evidence |
| 35. | exigent circumstances | emergency justifying quick action |
| 36. | expungement | erasing a legal record |
| 37. | extradition | transfer for prosecution elsewhere |
| 38. | felony | serious criminal offense |
| 39. | forfeiture | loss of property by law |
| 40. | hearsay | secondhand statement offered as evidence |
| 41. | hung jury | jury unable to reach verdict |
| 42. | immunity | protection from prosecution or suit |
| 43. | indictment | formal criminal accusation |
| 44. | ineffective assistance | constitutionally poor legal representation |
| 45. | information | formal charge without indictment |
| 46. | insanity | mental state defense to crime |
| 47. | intent | purpose to do an act |
| 48. | interrogation | formal police questioning |
| 49. | judge | official presiding over court |
| 50. | jurisdiction | court’s legal authority |
| 51. | juror | member of a jury |
| 52. | jury trial | trial decided by a jury |
| 53. | justification | legal reason making act lawful |
| 54. | liability | legal responsibility |
| 55. | mens rea | guilty state of mind |
| 56. | Miranda warning | notice of constitutional rights |
| 57. | misdemeanor | less serious criminal offense |
| 58. | mistrial | trial ended without valid verdict |
| 59. | mitigation | facts reducing blame or punishment |
| 60. | motion | formal request to the court |
| 61. | necessity | choice of lesser harm |
| 62. | objection | formal protest in court |
| 63. | offense | violation of criminal law |
| 64. | order | official command from court |
| 65. | parole | supervised release after prison |
| 66. | plain view | visible evidence doctrine |
| 67. | plea | formal response to a charge |
| 68. | privilege | legal right to withhold information |
| 69. | probable cause | reasonable basis for belief |
| 70. | probation | supervision instead of jail |
| 71. | prosecution | side seeking conviction |
| 72. | public trial | open court proceeding right |
| 73. | rap sheet | summary of criminal history |
| 74. | reasonable doubt | high standard for criminal conviction |
| 75. | reasonable suspicion | specific basis for brief stop |
| 76. | remand | send back into custody |
| 77. | restitution | payment to compensate victim |
| 78. | revocation | cancellation of release or probation |
| 79. | right to counsel | right to a lawyer |
| 80. | ruling | judge’s decision on issue |
| 81. | search | government examination for evidence |
| 82. | seizure | government taking of person or property |
| 83. | self-defense | protective force against threat |
| 84. | self-incrimination | exposing oneself to criminal liability |
| 85. | sentence | court’s punishment after conviction |
| 86. | speedy trial | prompt criminal trial right |
| 87. | stop and frisk | brief detention and pat-down |
| 88. | subpoena | order to appear or produce evidence |
| 89. | summons | order to appear in court |
| 90. | suppression | excluding improperly obtained evidence |
| 91. | testimony | spoken evidence under oath |
| 92. | transcript | written record of proceedings |
| 93. | trial | formal examination of a case |
| 94. | venue | proper place for trial |
| 95. | verdict | jury’s decision in a case |
| 96. | voir dire | jury selection questioning |
| 97. | waiver | intentional giving up of a right |
| 98. | warrant | court authorization for police action |
| 99. | wiretap | intercepted phone communication |
| 100. | witness | person giving evidence |