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Accessory: A person who assists in the commission of a crime

Acquittal: Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt

Arraignment: A proceedings in which a person accused of committing a crime is brought to court, told the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty

Arrest warrant: A written order directing the arrest of a party

Bail: Security for the release of a defendant from custody to ensure he will appear in court when ordered

Bench trial: Trial without a jury trial in which a judge decides the facts. In a jury trial, the jury decides the facts.

Beyond a reasonable doubt: Standard required to convict a criminal defendant of a crime

Class action: A lawsuit filed by a small group of plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and other persons in a similar situation.

Complainant: Another word for plaintiff

Concurrent Sentence:When the sentences for more than one crime are to be served together

Consecutive sentence: When a sentence takes effect after the expiration of a prior sentence

Conviction: A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant

Cross-examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side

Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents aimed to persuade the judge or jury

Excuplatory evidence: Evidence that shows the defendant’s innocence

Exhibit: Documents that are presented in a court proceeding

Habeas corpus: A writ used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment

Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting a specific act

Judgment: The official decision of a court

Lawsuit: A legal action started by plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty

Mistrial: An invalid trial. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again, beginning with the selection of a new jury

Objection: A protest by an attorney , challenging a statement or question made during a trial. Once an objection is made, the judge decides whether to permit the question or statement

Panel: In appeal cases, a group of judges assigned to design the case; In the jury selection process, the group pf potential jurors

Plaintiff: The person who makes. complaint in a lawsuit

Plea: The defendant’s answer of guilty or not guilty to charges in court. A guilty pleas allows the defendant to forego a trial

Preliminary hearing: A hearing where a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to require the defendant to go to trial

Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants as long as certain conditions are observed

Quash: When an appellate court sets aside the decision of a lower court

Sentence: The punishment ordered by a court for defendant convicted of a crime

Statute of limitations: Law that sets the time within an action must be filed

Summary trial: A trial in the magistrates’ court

Hyperlink: A hot spot on a web page that links to a another HTML page or file on the World Wide Web.

Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trial

Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said during a court hearing

Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads not guilty

Virtual complainant: The prosecution witness who alleges he/she is the victim of a crime

Voluntary Bill of Indictment: This enables a Supreme Court trial without a preliminary hearing in the magistrates’ court