Latin: the burden. It is usually used in the context of evidence. The onus of proof in criminal cases lies with the State. It is the State that has the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt. In ci [..]

This is a concise collection of commonly used terms which may be of assistance when covering legal stories. You may also wish to refer to more comprehensive legal dictionaries.

Latin: friend of the court. Refers to people asking for permission to intervene in a case in which they are neither plaintiff nor defendant, usually to present their point of view (or that of their or [..]

The formal appearance of an accused person in the court of trial to hear the indictment (charge) against him or her, in the presence of a judge, and to then enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.

French word now part of English criminal law terminology. Refers to an accused who cannot be tried for a crime because the record shows he has already been subjected to trial for the same conduct and [..]

Apprehended Violence Orders ("AVOs") are made if a court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has reasonable grounds to fear violence, harassment, intimidation [..]

A commitment made (and possibly secured by cash or property) to secure the release of a person being held in custody and suspected of a crime, to provide some kind of guarantee that the suspect will a [..]

Burden of proof (see Onus)

A right that belongs to the client of a lawyer that the latter keep any information or words spoken to him during the provision of the legal services to that client, strictly confidential. This includ [..]

Negotiations during a criminal trial, between an accused person and a prosecutor in which the accused agrees to admit to a crime (sometimes a lesser crime than the one set out in the original charge). [..]