The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may “impeach” high officers of the federal government, who are then tried by the Senate. Federal judges receive petitions for a writ of habeas corpus from state prison inmates who say their state prosecutions violated federally protected rights in some way. Grand jury A body of citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which is presented by the prosecutors, and determine whether there is probable cause to believe an individual committed an offense. Exempt assets Property that a debtor is allowed to retain, free from the claims of creditors who do not have liens on the property. Exclusionary rule Doctrine that says evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant’s constitutional or statutory rights is not admissible at trial. Bankruptcy estate All interests of the debtor in property at the time of the bankruptcy filing.
Inculpatory evidence Evidence indicating that a defendant did commit the crime. In camera Latin, meaning in a judge’s chambers.
The laws are very strict → Les lois sont très sévères. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The advocacy of revision, especially in relation to court decisions. The rights or legal status of the first born in a family. The rights or legal status of the last child bom in a family. A lawyer whose practice is of a small or petty character; a lawyer of little importance.
This edition also includes expanded coverage of criminology and law enforcement. Unlawful detainer action A lawsuit brought by a landlord against a tenant to evict the tenant from rental property – usually for nonpayment of rent. Probation Sentencing option in the federal courts. Pretrial conference A meeting of the judge and lawyers to plan the trial, to discuss which matters should be presented to the jury, to review proposed evidence and witnesses, and to set a trial schedule.
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Read more about legal commentaries here. The IRS disagreed with every argument, saying her monies were retirement monies divided in divorce, so they were taxable. The retirement issue was resolved by statute, the court said.
Plain Language Law Dictionary
Rule applies to more restricted or specific situations. ˈlawless adjective paying no attention to, and not keeping, the law.
What is a Legal Dictionary?
Assume An agreement to continue performing duties under a contract or lease. Article III judge A federal judge who is appointed for life, during “good behavior,” under Article III of the Constitution. Article III judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Amicus curiae Latin for “friend of the court.” It is advice formally offered to the court in a brief filed by an entity interested in, but not a party to, the case. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘law.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Schools are required by law to provide a safe learning environment. She has proposed a new law to protect people from being evicted unfairly.
Procedure The rules for conducting a lawsuit; there are rules of civil procedure, criminal procedure, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure. Federal public defender organization As provided for in the Criminal Justice Act, an organization established within a federal judicial circuit to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford an adequate defense. Each organization is supervised by a federal public defender appointed by the court of appeals for the circuit. Due process In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial. In civil law, the legal rights of someone who confronts an adverse action threatening liberty or property. Chapter 13 trustee A person appointed to administer a Chapter 13 case. Bankruptcy trustee A private individual or corporation appointed in all Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases to represent the interests of the bankruptcy estate and the debtor’s creditors.