Judicial/U.S. Court Vocabulary List
1. amicus curiae brief-a brief presented by someone interested in influencing
the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it
2. antitrust law-law intended to promote free competition in the market place
by outlawing monopolies
3. appeal-a legal proceeding to review a lower court decision
4. appellate-of or relating to a legal appeal or a court of appeals
5. bail-money forfeited if the accused fails to appear in court
6. civil law-the body of laws established by a state or nation for its own
regulation
7. civil liberty-one's freedom to exercise one's rights as guaranteed under the
laws of the country
8. civil right-right belonging to a person by reason of citizenship
9. class action-a lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group
of people on behalf of all members of the group
10.common law-a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather
than statutory laws
11.concurrence-agreement of results or opinions
12.court of appeals-a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower
courts or agencies
13.criminal law-the body of law dealing with crimes and their punishment
14.defendant-someone against whom an action is brought in a court of law
15.dissent-the difference of one judge's opinion from the majority
16.docket-the calendar of a court
17.double jeopardy-the prosecution of a defendant for a criminal offense for
which he has already been tried; prohibited in the fifth amendment to the
United States Constitution
18.due process-administration of justice according to rules and principles
19.equal protection of the laws-a right guaranteed by the Fourteenth
Amendment to the US Constitution and by the due-process clause of the
Fifth Amendment
20.felony-a serious crime, such as murder or arson
21.Fifth Amendment-an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
that imposes restrictions on the government's prosecution of persons
accused of crimes; mandates due process of law and prohibits selfincrimination and double jeopardy; requires just compensation if private
property is taken for public use
22.gag order-a court order restricting information or comment by the
participants involved in a lawsuit
23.grand jury-a panel to determine if a case should be brought to trial
24.habeas corpus-a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge
25.immunity-an act exempting someone
26.indictment-a formal document charging a person with some offense
27.judicial-relating to the administration of justice
28.judicial activism-an interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the
spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence
judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
29.judicial review-review by a court of law of actions of a government official
or entity or of some other legally appointed person or body or the review
by an appellate court of the decision of a trial court
30.jurisdiction-the right and power to interpret and apply the law
31.jury-a body of citizens sworn to give a verdict in a court of law
32.Justice Department-the United States federal department responsible for
enforcing federal laws (including the enforcement of all civil rights
legislation); created in 1870
33.Libel-the written statement of a plaintiff explaining defamation
34.majority opinion-the opinion joined by a majority of the court
35.Miranda rule-the rule that police (when interrogating you after an arrest)
are obliged to warn you that anything you say may be used as evidence and
to read you your constitutional rights (the right to a lawyer and the right to
remain silent until advised by a lawyer)
36.Misdemeanor-a crime less serious than a felony
37.Opinion-the legal document stating reasons for a judicial decision
38.opinion poll-an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a
random sample of people
39.petit jury-a jury of 12 to determine the facts and decide the issue in civil or
criminal proceedings
40.plaintiff-a person who brings an action in a court of law
41.plea-a defendant's answer by a factual matter
42.plea bargain-(criminal law) a negotiation in which the defendant agrees to
enter a plea of guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutor agrees to drop a
more serious charge
43.precedent-a legal decision that influences subsequent decisions
44.probable cause-(law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and
seizure
45.public defender-a lawyer who represents indigent defendants at public
expense
46.racial profiling-a form of racism consisting of the (alleged) policy of
policemen who stop and search vehicles driven by persons belonging to
particular racial groups
47.remand-refer a matter or legal case back to another authority
48.reprieve-a warrant granting postponement
49.search warrant-a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to search
for objects or people involved in the commission of a crime and to produce
them in court; the warrant describes the locations where the officials may
search
50.sedition-an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
51.slander-words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
52.solicitor general-a law officer appointed to assist an attorney general
53.Supreme Court-the highest federal court in the United States
54.Tort-a wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought
55.writ of certiorari-a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of
inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case
56.writ of mandamus-an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform
a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a
matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial
remedies fail