Law & Justice

2. A written or printed statement under oath
6. An agreement between two or more people that creates an obligation to do or not to do a particular thing.
7. A complete collection of every document filed in court in a case.
9. Information presented in testimony or in documents that are used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case in favor of one side or the other.
12. A person or business that files a formal complaint with the court.
16. A law passed by a legislature.
17. A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty which resulted in harm to the plaintiff.
18. 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.
20. Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
21. An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.
22. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.
24. 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. See also indictment and U.S. attorney.

1. 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.
3. Another name for a lawyer
4. A creditor's assertion of a right to payment from a debtor or the debtor's property.
5. A verdict that means the defendant is not guilty
8. 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. See also information.
10. 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.
11. The system of rules which a country or community recognizes as regulation
13. A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison.
14. An offense punishable by one year of imprisonment or less.
15. A crime punishable by death.
19. In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges. See also nolo contendere.
23. The group of persons selected to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on matters of fact. See also grand jury.