Mock Trial Vocabulary

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172
Across
  1. 1. A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.
  2. 3. a questioning of prospective jurors by the attorneys, and, on application of any party, by the judge, to see if any of them should be disqualified or removed by challenge or examination
  3. 6. the government attorney charging and trying the case against a person accused of a crime.
  4. 7. The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
  5. 9. Law the system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
  6. 12. Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. Judges sometimes use "court" to refer to themselves in the third person, as in "the court has read the briefs."
  7. 13. A formal accusation by a government attorney that the defendant committed a misdemeanor.
  8. 15. the first interrogation of a witness by the party on whose behalf the witness is called
  9. 17. A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was correct. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the "appellant;" the other party is the "appellee."
  10. 19. The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime.
  11. 20. A judge's written explanation of the decision of the court. Because a case may be heard by three or more judges in the court of appeals, the opinion in appellate decisions can take several forms. If all the judges completely agree on the result, one judge will write the opinion for all. If all the judges do not agree, the formal decision will be based upon the view of the majority, and one member of the majority will write the opinion. The judges who did not agree with the majority may write separately in dissenting or concurring opinions to present their views. A dissenting opinion disagrees with the majority opinion because of the reasoning and/or the principles of law the majority used to decide the case. A concurring opinion agrees with the decision of the majority opinion, but offers further comment or clarification or even an entirely different reason for reaching the same result. Only the majority opinion can serve as binding precedent in future cases. See also precedent.
  12. 21. Monetary compensation or indemnity for wrong or injury caused by the violation of a legal right.
  13. 25. a paper, document or other article produced and exhibited to a court during a trial or hearing and, on being accepted, is marked for identification or admitted in evidence
  14. 26. the party being sued or the party accused of committing the offense charged
  15. 27. a lawyer who is qualified to represent a client in court.
  16. 28. Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  17. 29. A court order preventing one or more named parties from taking some action. A preliminary injunction often is issued to allow fact-finding, so a judge can determine whether a permanent injunction is justified.
  18. 30. A jury of 12 persons impaneled to try and to decide finally upon the facts at issue in causes for trial in a court
  19. 32. Questioning a witness about matters brought up during re-direct examination.
  20. 37. A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims against the defendant.
  21. 40. an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law.
  22. 41. The act of a court setting aside the decision of a lower court. A reversal is often accompanied by a remand to the lower court for further proceedings.
  23. 43. an official who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths.
  24. 45. A law passed by a legislature.
  25. 47. A closing argument, summation, or summing up is the concluding statement of each party's counsel reiterating the important arguments for the trier of fact, often the jury, in a court case. A closing argument occurs after the presentation of evidence.
  26. 49. of proof The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden of proving the defendant's guilt. (See standard of proof.)
  27. 51. The formal written statement by a defendant in a civil case that responds to a complaint, articulating the grounds for defense.
  28. 54. to send a case back from an appellate court to the lower court from which it came, for further proceedings
  29. 55. denoting a civil action in which damages are sought against a party for causing a death, typically when criminal action has failed or is not attempted.
  30. 57. the formal examination of a legal controversy in court so as to determine the issue
  31. 58. A command, issued under a court's authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  32. 59. A jury trial or trial by jury is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact, which then direct the actions of a judge.
  33. 60. The procedure by which a person accused of committing a crime is charged, brought to trial, and judged.
  34. 63. fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
  35. 66. The dissection of a dead body by a medical examiner or physician authorized by law to do so in order to determine the cause and time of a death that appears to have resulted from other than natural causes.
  36. 68. A proceeding in which a criminal defendant is brought into court, told of the charges in an indictment or information, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  37. 69. an instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring.
  38. 70. jurisdiction- Directed to a specific person to impose a personal liability on him (usually the defendant).
  39. 71. a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, who keeps order in the courtroom and handles various errands for the judge and clerk.
  40. 72. a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.
Down
  1. 2. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  2. 4. a criminal trial held after minimal delay, as considered to be a citizen's constitutional right.
  3. 5. a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
  4. 8. To carry on; to maintain. To affirm, uphold or approve, as when an appellate court sustains the decision of a lower court. To grant, as when a judge sustains an objection to testimony or evidence, he or she agrees with the objection and gives it effect.
  5. 10. Party to a legal action
  6. 11. questioning by a party or his attorney of an adverse party or a witness called by an adverse party.
  7. 14. The persons who are directly involved or interested in any act, affair, contract, transaction, or legal proceeding; opposing litigants.
  8. 16. a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
  9. 18. the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
  10. 22. In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges..
  11. 23. The release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under specified conditions designed to assure that person's appearance in court when required. Also can refer to the amount of bond money posted as a financial condition of pretrial release.
  12. 24. one who testifies to what he/she has seen, heard, or otherwise observed
  13. 30. A jury that decides whether the evidence warrants bringing an accused person to trial. Once indicted by a grand jury, a person must stand trial.
  14. 31. the official record of proceedings in a trial or hearing
  15. 32. is the trial process by which the party who offered the witness has a chance to explain or otherwise qualify any damaging or accusing testimony brought out by the opponent during cross-examination.
  16. 33. questioning by a party or his attorney of an adverse party or a witness called by an adverse party
  17. 34. an expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition; a reason for disagreeing.
  18. 35. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or signed pleadings or other forms on behalf of a client. The lawyer remains the attorney of record until some other attorney or the client substitutes for him/her, he/she is allowed by the court to withdraw, or after the case is closed. Sometimes lawyers find themselves still on the record in a case (such as divorces) which they believe have long since been completed.
  19. 36. Statement the first address of counsel prior to offering of evidence
  20. 38. a form of proof or probative matter legally presented at the trial of an issue by the acts of the parties and through witnesses, records, documents, concrete objects, etc., for the purpose of inducing belief in the minds of the court or the jury
  21. 39. complaint or petition, answer, and reply
  22. 42. Law a system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.
  23. 44. the geographical, subject matter, and monetary limitations of a court
  24. 46. A form used to commence a civil action and acquire jurisdiction over a party
  25. 48. An offense punishable by one year of imprisonment or less.
  26. 50. legal trial held in a court made open to members of the public.
  27. 52. a swearing to the truth of a statement which, if made by one who knows it to be false, may subject one to a prosecution for perjury or other legal proceedings
  28. 53. A written or printed statement made under oath.
  29. 56. A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  30. 61. the determination of a jury on the facts
  31. 62. A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court.
  32. 64. Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.
  33. 65. a meeting of a deliberative or judicial body to conduct its business.
  34. 67. An official of the Judicial branch with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts. Used generically, the term judge may also refer to all judicial officers, including Supreme Court justices.