12 Angry Men

Abstain

to choose not to vote

acquittal

deciding that a person is not guilty of a crime

alibi

a claim that one cannot be guilty of a crime because he/she was elsewhere

belligerent

aggressive and hostile; (combative) showing willingness to fight

bigot

a person who hates or refuses to accept members of a particular group

cross examine

to check out a witness' statements after that witness has already been questioned.

deliberate

to carefully discuss something in order to make a decision

double jeopardy

a defendant cannot be tried more than once for the same crime

el train

(short for "elevated" train) a rapid transit system serving Chicago and surrounding areas

foreman

a member of a jury serving as the leader

frenzy

wild, agitated uncontrolled activity;

disorderly; temporary madness

homicide

the act of killing another person

hung jury

a jury in which the members cannot agree upon a decision

intimidate

to make someone afraid

meek

having or showing a quiet and gentle nature;

not wanting to fight or argue with other people

naive

innocent; having or showing a lack of experience or knowledge

perjury

the crime of telling a lie in court

plead the fifth

the Fifth Amendment protects people from having to testify if their testimony might prove to incriminate then

preliminary

something that comes first in order to precede other items

premeditated

to think about or consider beforehand

proposition

a statement one intends to discuss, explain, or prove

prosecution

the act of conducting a trial against a person to determine guilt or innocence

reasonable doubt

a true doubt, based upon logical thought and common sense, after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence; it does not require absolute certainty

refugee

someone who has been forced to leave a country because of political or religious reasons

sadist

one who enjoys causing another pain

tenement

a large building with rooms for rent; usually in a poor neighborhood of a city

unanimous

agreed to by everyone

verdict

the decision made by a jury or judge in a trial

voir dire

a preliminary examination by attorneys for the defense and prosecution to determine the qualifications of a juror or witness

writhing

to twist so as to distort