Interpreter Legal Terminology

Acquittal

A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty or a judge's finding that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.

Administrative law judge

An officer in a regulatory or social service agency who decides disputes under laws and regulations administered by the agency.

Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO)

The federal agency responsible for collecting court statistics administering the federal courts' budget and performing other administrative functions.

Admissible

Evidence that may be considered by a judge or jury in civil or criminal cases.

Adversary proceeding

A lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case that begins by filing a complaint with the court.

Affidavit

A written or printed statement made under oath.

Affirmed

A finding by an appellate court that the lower court decision is correct and will stand.

Alternate juror

A juror who hears all the evidence but replaces a regular juror if needed.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Methods of resolving legal disputes without a trial such as mediation or arbitration.

Amicus curiae

Latin for friend of the court; advice offered to the court by someone not a party to the case.

Answer

The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a complaint.

Appeal

A request to a higher court to review a lower court decision.

Bankruptcy code

The informal name for Title 11 of the United States Code which contains federal bankruptcy law.

Bankruptcy court

The bankruptcy judges in each judicial district which form a unit of the district court.

Bankruptcy estate

All legal or equitable interests of the debtor at the time of the bankruptcy filing.

Bankruptcy judge

A judicial officer of the district court who presides over bankruptcy cases.

Bankruptcy petition

The document filed to begin a bankruptcy case.

Bench trial

A trial conducted by a judge without a jury.

Brief

A written statement submitted in court explaining a party's legal and factual arguments.

Burden of proof

The duty to prove disputed facts in a case.

Business bankruptcy

A bankruptcy case involving a business or debts primarily for business purposes.

Capital offense

A crime punishable by death.

Case ancillary to a foreign proceeding

A case under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code to protect U.S. property of a debtor in foreign insolvency proceedings.

Case file

The complete collection of documents filed in a court case.

Case law

Law established through previous court decisions.

Caseload

The number of cases handled by a judge or court.

Cause of action

The legal basis allowing a party to seek judicial relief.

Chief judge

The judge responsible for administration of a court.

Circuit Executive

A federal court employee who assists the chief judge and provides administrative support.

Claim

A creditor's right to payment from a debtor.

Class action

A lawsuit filed by one or more individuals on behalf of a larger group.

Clerk of court

An officer who manages court records case flow and administrative matters.

Collateral

Property pledged as security for repayment of a debt.

Common law

A legal system based on judicial decisions and precedent.

Community service

Court-ordered unpaid work for a civic or nonprofit organization.

Complaint

A written statement filed by a plaintiff initiating a civil lawsuit.

Concurrent sentence

Prison terms for multiple offenses served at the same time.

Confirmation

Court approval of a bankruptcy plan or Senate approval of a judicial nominee.

Consecutive sentence

Prison terms served one after another.

Consumer bankruptcy

A bankruptcy case filed to reduce or eliminate consumer debts.

Consumer debtor

A debtor whose debts are primarily consumer debts.

Consumer debts

Debts incurred for personal family or household purposes.

Contested matter

Litigation resolving disputes other than adversary proceedings in bankruptcy.

Contingent claim

A claim dependent on the occurrence of a future event.

Contract

An agreement between parties creating legally enforceable obligations.

Conviction

A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.

Counsel

Legal advice or the lawyers representing parties in a case.

Count

A separate allegation of a crime in an indictment or information.

Court

A government body authorized to resolve legal disputes.

Court of International Trade

A federal court that hears cases involving international trade law.

Court reporter

A person who records court proceedings and prepares transcripts.

Credit counseling

A required briefing from an approved agency before filing bankruptcy.

Damages

Money awarded to compensate a plaintiff for injury or loss.

De facto

Latin meaning in fact or actually.

De jure

Latin meaning in law.

De novo

Latin meaning anew referring to a new trial or review without deference.

Debtor

A person or entity involved in a bankruptcy case.

Declaratory judgment

A court ruling defining the legal rights of parties without ordering action.

Default judgment

A judgment for the plaintiff when the defendant fails to respond or appear.

Defendant

The person or entity accused in a criminal case or sued in a civil case.

Deposition

Oral testimony taken under oath before trial.

Discharge

A release of a debtor from personal liability for certain debts.

Dischargeable debt

A debt that may be eliminated in bankruptcy.

Disclosure statement

A document providing creditors information about a Chapter 11 plan.

Discovery

The process by which parties obtain evidence from one another before trial.

Dismissal with prejudice

A court decision preventing a lawsuit from being filed again.

Dismissal without prejudice

A court decision allowing the case to be filed again later.

Disposable income

Income not necessary for a debtor's support or maintenance.

Docket

A chronological record of court proceedings in a case.

Due process

The constitutional guarantee of fair legal procedures.

En banc

A session where all judges of a court hear a case.

Evidence

Materials presented to prove or disprove facts in a case.

Ex parte

A proceeding conducted for one party without the other present.

Exclusionary rule

The rule that illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

Exculpatory evidence

Evidence suggesting a defendant is not guilty.

Executory contracts

Contracts in which both parties still have significant duties to perform.

Exempt assets

Property a debtor may keep despite creditor claims.

Exemptions

Property protected from creditors under bankruptcy or state law.

Family farmer

A person or entity engaged in farming eligible for Chapter 12 bankruptcy.

Federal public defender

An attorney employed to represent defendants who cannot afford counsel.

Federal public defender organization

An organization representing indigent criminal defendants.

Federal question jurisdiction

Federal court authority over cases involving federal law or the Constitution.

Felony

A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

File

The act of submitting a document to the court or the official record of a case.

Financial management

A required course for debtors after filing bankruptcy to obtain discharge.

Fraudulent transfer

A transfer of property intended to defraud creditors or for less than fair value.

Grand jury

A group that determines whether sufficient evidence exists to charge someone with a crime.

Impeachment

The process of challenging a witness's credibility or accusing a federal official of misconduct.

In camera

Proceedings conducted privately in a judge's chambers.

In forma pauperis

Permission to proceed without paying court fees due to inability to pay.

Inculpatory evidence

Evidence indicating a defendant committed the crime.

Indictment

A formal charge issued by a grand jury for a serious crime.

Information

A formal criminal charge issued by a prosecutor without a grand jury.

Injunction

A court order requiring someone to do or stop doing something.

Insider (bankruptcy)

A person or entity with a close relationship to the debtor.

Interrogatories

Written questions sent to an opposing party in litigation requiring sworn answers.

Issue

The disputed point between parties in a lawsuit.

Judgment

The final decision of a court resolving a dispute.

Judicial Conference of the United States

The policymaking body for the federal court system.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear and decide cases.