Courtroom Terminology

acquittal

n. judgement that a person is not guilty of crime being charged

adjudication

the final judgment in a legal proceeding; act of pronouncing judgment based on the evidence presented

appeal

v. apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court

beyond all reasonable doubt

a phrase in which jurors are told that the defendant is certainly guilty/innocent

contempt of court

behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the court.

conviction

final judgement of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed

corroborating evidence

additional evidence that supports a proof already offered in a proceeding

counsel

advocate: a lawyer who pleads cases in court

cross examination

close questioning of a hostile witness in a court of law to discredit or throw a new light on the testimony already provided in direct examination

defendant

an individual/company/institution sued or accused in a court of law

defense

a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability

evidence

available body of facts/info indicating whether a belief or proposition is valid

expunge

type of lawsuit in which a first time offender of a prior criminal conviction seeks that the records of that earlier process be sealed/purged

hearings

a proceeding where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

immaterial

unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant

indicted

accuse formally of a crime

irrelevant

not connected with or relevant to something

jury

body of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court

jury box

segregated area in which the jury sits in a court of law

litigants

a person involved in a lawsuit

oath

sworn declaration that one will tell the truth

objection

the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest

offense

breach of a law of rule; an illegal act

overruled

reject or disallow by exercising one's superior authority

proceedings

action taken in a court to settle a dispute

prosecution

institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behavior

rebuttal

refutation/contradiction

relevancy

relation of something to the matter at hand

subpoena

a writ ordering a person to attend a court

sustained

for a judge to agree that an attorney's objection is valid

testify

give evidence as a witness in a law court

testimony

formal written/spoken statement

witness

person who sees an event, giving sworn testimony to court of law

witness stand

place in a court where a witness stands to give evidence