English 8 Legal Terms Flash Cards

Acquittal

a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime they have been charged with

Alibi

a claim that a person was elsewhere when a crime is supposed to have taken place

Alleged

doubtful, suspected to be

Burden of Proof

an obligation to prove an accused individual as “innocent” or “guilty”

Court - Appointed

a lawyer provided for a defendant by the court if the defendant cannot provide one for themselves

Cross - Examine

to question a witness in court in order to check or discredit their testimony

Defendant

a person who is accused of a crime in a legal case, typically represented by a defense attorney in court

Hang the Jury/Hung Jury

a jury that cannot agree on a verdict, often resulting in a retrial

Jury

a group of people sworn to give a decision in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted by a court

Presumption of Innocence

the legal principle that every person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty

Prosecution

the side of a legal case which argues that a person who is accused off of a crime is guilty

Verdict

a decision in court of law, typically “guilty” or “not guilty”

Reasonable Doubt

when there is insufficient evidence for a jury or judge to convict a defendant of a crime

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Beyond a reasonable doubt means the person is guilty, and there is too much evidence proving they are guilty

Refute

to prove that something is false

Testimony

a formal statement given in court

Witness

a person who saw or heard the crime take place or may have important information about the crime or the defendant

Void Dire

The phrase “Voir Dire” literally means, “to speak the truth.’ In court, it refers to a process of determining whether a juror can serve fairly and impartially in a given case by asking the juror various questions. These questions are designed to let the court learn whether a juror has prior knowledge of the case, is related to or employed by one of the parties in the case, and whether the juror has prejudices and opinions which would make it impossible for him/her to make an impartial decision in the case.