A judicial command or order proceeding from a court or judicial officer, directing the proper officer to enforce a judgment, sentence, or decree.

Requirement that police tell a suspect in their custody of his or her constitutional rights before they question him or her: specifically, the right to remain silent; that any statement made may be used against him or her; the right to an attorney; and if the person cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed if he or she desires.

See MIRANDA RIGHTS.

A lesser offense than a felony and generally punishable by fine or limited jail time, but not in a penitentiary.

An invalid trial caused by some legal error. When a judge declares a mistrial, the trial must start again from the beginning, including the selection of a new jury.

Those which do not constitute a justification or excuse for an offense but which may be considered as reasons for reducing the degree of blame.

Facts that do not constitute a justification or excuse for an offense but which may be considered as reasons for reducing the degree of blame.

A change, alteration, or amendment which introduces new elements into the details, or cancels some of them, but leaves the general purpose and effect of the subject-matter intact.

A moot case or a moot point is one not subject to a judicial determination because it involves an abstract question or a pretended controversy that has not yet actually arisen or has already passed. Mootness usually refers to a court's refusal to consider a case because the issue involved has been resolved prior to the court's decision, leaving nothing that would be affected by the court's decision.

Immorality. An element of crimes inherently bad, as opposed to crimes bad merely because they are forbidden by statute.

Oral or written request made by a party to an action before, during, or after a trial asking the judge to issue a ruling or order in that party's favor.

Unlawful killing of another, without malice, when the death is caused by some other unlawful act not usually expected to result in great bodily harm.

Ruling or order issued by the judge denying the party's request.

Ruling or order issued by the judge granting the party's request.

Pictures taken after a suspect is taken into custody (booked), usually used as an official photograph by police officers.

Numerous and unnecessary attempts to litigate the same issue.

The unlawful killing of a human being with deliberate intent to kill.

Failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would use under the same circumstances.

One acting without formal appointment as guardian for the benefit of an infant, a person of unsound mind not judicially declared incompetent, or other person under some disability.

This phrase, endorsed by a grand jury on the written indictment submitted to it for its approval, means that the evidence was found insufficient to indict.

Language in a will that provides that a person who makes a legal challenge to the will's validity will be disinherited.

A civil case in which parties may resolve their dispute without a formal finding of error or fault.

Unlawful killing of another, without malice, when the act is committed with a sudden extreme emotional impulse.

One who is joined as a party or defendant merely because the technical rules of pleading require his presence in the record.

That quality of evidence which tends to influence the trier of fact because of its logical connection with the issue.

In criminal trial, a witness whose testimony is crucial to either the defense or prosecution.

A malicious injury which disables or disfigures another.

A form of alternative dispute resolution  in which the parties bring their dispute to a neutral third party, who helps them agree on a settlement.

The wellness of a person's state of mind.

Strict legal rights of the parties; a decision "on the merits" is one that reaches the right(s) of a party, as distinguished from disposition of a case on a ground not reaching the right(s) raised in an action; for example, entry of nolle prosequi before a criminal trial begins is a disposition other than on the merits, allowing trial on those charges at a later time without double jeopardy attaching; similarly, dismissal of a civil action on a preliminary motion raising a technicality, such as improper service of process, does not result in res judicata of an issue.