Common Words and Phrases

An officer who maintains courtroom order and jury custody.

Refers to the amount of proof required in a criminal case. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt. The law does not require proof that overcomes every possible doubt. It is a higher standard than required in civil cases.

The law authorizes the judge and the lawyers to excuse individual jurors from service in a particular case for various reasons. If a lawyer wishes to have a juror excused, he or she must use a "challenge" for that juror. Challenges are of two kinds:

The law sets forth a number of reasons why jurors may be excused "for cause," that is, for a specified reason, such as bias or prejudice. For example, a juror who is related to or employed by one of the parties in the case may be excused for cause. There is no limit to the number of challenges for cause.

Each side in a case has a certain number of challenges that need not be supported by any reason, although a party may not use such a challenge in a way that discriminates against certain kinds of groups, such as a racial minority or one gender. These are called peremptory challenges. Each side may ask the judge to excuse a limited number of particu [..]

A case involving the law of civil or private rights. A lawsuit is called a civil case when it is between two or more individuals or corporations involved in a dispute and usually seeks a judgment awarding monetary damages.

The fundamental law of our nation that establishes the conception, character, and organization of its sovereign power and the manner of its exercise. Also, the document that contains the guiding rules and principles, the descriptions of the power of the government, and the essential rights of the people of a country or state or other governing coll [..]

A disagreement or a dispute that requires a definitive determination of how the law applies to the facts that are asserted to be true.

One or more lawyers who represent a client.