Criminal Court Words or Judicial Terms +
(judicial or legal words that may apply to trial processes that determine the guilt or innocence of people which is ascertained by either judges or juries)
amicus curiae
From Latin: "a friend of the court".
People may initiate petitions on behalf of others, perhaps for someone who is in prison.
Such amicus briefs are designed to present legal arguments or facts on behalf of someone else. Such a person is allowed to appear in court or to file a brief even though he/she has no right to participate in the litigation otherwise.
answer
A written response relating to a filed complaint prepared by a litigant or defendant.
appeal, appeal proceedings
Any request by the defense or prosecution directed to a higher court to contest a decision or judgment by a lower court.
appearance
The act of coming into a court and submitting to the authority of that court.
appelate jurisdiction
An authority who rehears cases from lower courts and who alters, upholds, or overturns lower court decisions.
appellant
A person who initiates an appeal.
appellate court
A court hearing appeals that come from lower courts. These courts typically do not try criminal cases.
appellate review
A comprehensive rehearing of a case in a court other than the one in which it was previously tried.
appellee
A reference to someone who prevailed, or won, in a lower court; who argues on appeal against reversing the lower court's decision.
argument
Any rationale provided by the defense or prosecution to support one's position in court.
Any oral persuasion attempted before a jury.
arraignment
An official proceeding in which a defendant is formally confronted with criminal charges and enters a plea and a trial date is determained.
arrest
Taking people into custody and restraining them until they can be brought before a court to answer the charges against them.
arrestee
The person who has been arrested by police for suspicion of committing a crime.
assembly-line justice
A term applied to an overworked, inadequately staffed court that is unsympathetic and considered to be unfair to criminal defendants.
assigned counsel system
A program wherein indigent clients (people lacking money) are charged with crimes may have defense attorneys appointed for them.
These defense attorneys may be private attorneys who agree to be rotated to perform such services for a low rate of reimbursement (payment) from the city, county, or state.
Also see this Index or Menu for a variety of other topics.
