Mock Trial Vocabulary

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Across
  1. 3. Any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin.
  2. 5. 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.
  3. 8. The formal written statement by a defendant in a civil case that responds to a complaint, articulating the grounds for defense.
  4. 9. To keep up or keep going, as an action or process.
  5. 10. A law passed by a legislature.
  6. 11. A criminal trial held after minimal delay, as considered to be a citizen's constitutional right.
  7. 12. An official of the Judicial branch with authority to decide lawsuits brought before courts.
  8. 13. A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty.
  9. 16. 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.
  10. 18. Written statements filed with the court that describe a party's legal or factual assertions about the case.
  11. 20. The concluding statement of each party's counsel reiterating the important arguments for the trier of fact, often the jury, in a court case.
  12. 23. A call or citation by authority to appear before a court or a judicial officer.
  13. 24. A lawyer or barrister who has appeared in court or signed pleadings.
  14. 25. To justify a right to sue to obtain money, property, or the enforcement of a right against another party.
  15. 26. The duty to prove disputed facts.
  16. 27. A person engaged in a lawsuit.
  17. 28. 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.
  18. 30. A government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes.
  19. 33. 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.
  20. 36. A written or printed statement made under oath.
  21. 38. The laws of a state or country dealing with criminal offenses and their punishments.
  22. 42. To submit (a document, object, etc.) in evidence in a court of law.
  23. 44. The principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people.
  24. 45. A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial, or during some other formal conversation, such as a hearing or oral deposition.
  25. 49. A formal accusation by a government attorney that the defendant committed a misdemeanor.
  26. 50. An offense punishable by one year of imprisonment or less.
  27. 52. A person or group of persons that compose a single entity which can be identified as one for the purposes of the law.
  28. 55. The first interrogation of a witness by the side that has called that witness.
  29. 57. The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a certain type of case. It also is used as a synonym for venue, meaning the geographic area over which the court has territorial jurisdiction to decide cases.
  30. 60. Jury selection process of questioning prospective jurors, to ascertain their qualifications and determine any basis for challenge.
  31. 61. A court order preventing one or more named parties from taking some action.
  32. 63. A case, controversy, or lawsuit.
  33. 64. transfer A transfer of a debtor's property with the debtor's consent.
  34. 65. A solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing.
  35. 66. The sitting together of a court, council, legislature, or the like, for conference or the transaction of business.
  36. 67. A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison.
Down
  1. 1. A stated argument used to support a viewpoint.
  2. 2. The act of a court setting aside the decision of a lower court.
  3. 3. Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.
  4. 4. To examine (a witness called by the opposing side), as for the purpose of discrediting the witness's testimony.
  5. 6. Any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin.
  6. 7. 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.
  7. 14. A trial open to public.
  8. 15. The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime.
  9. 17. A reason or argument offered in disagreement, opposition, refusal, or disapproval.
  10. 18. A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court.
  11. 19. A command, issued under a court's authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  12. 21. A body of 16-23 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.
  13. 22. An additional cross-examination of the witness.
  14. 29. In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges.
  15. 31. 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.
  16. 32. The interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent.
  17. 34. One whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise as to legal rights and obligations in other matters.
  18. 35. A postmortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease.
  19. 36. A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
  20. 37. The determination of a person's guilt or innocence by due process of law.
  21. 39. Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case in favor of one side or the other.
  22. 40. An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.
  23. 41. An officer, similar to a sheriff or a sheriff's deputy, employed to execute writs and processes, make arrests, keep order in the court, etc.
  24. 43. An officer, as of a county or municipality, whose chief function is to investigate by inquest, as before a jury, any death not clearly resulting from natural causes.
  25. 46. A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims against the defendant.
  26. 47. A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute.
  27. 48. Charging someone with a crime.
  28. 49. The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  29. 51. Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  30. 53. Send back.
  31. 54. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  32. 56. The decision of a trial jury or a judge that determines the guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant, or that determines the final outcome of a civil case.
  33. 57. A legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact, which then direct the actions of a judge.
  34. 58. Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won.
  35. 59. The body of laws of a state or nation regulating ordinary private matters.
  36. 62. A person called upon by either side in a lawsuit to give testimony before the court or jury.