Sullens Law Vocab

Litigation

Legal case contested in court

Moratorium

Legally authorized period of delay

Nolo Contendere

"I do not wish to contest"

Own Recognizance (OR)

Condition of release of accused person without payment of bail

Plea

Defendant's answer to plaintiff's declaration; accused's answer to criminal charge

Power of Attorney

Written authority allowing one person to act for another

Preventive Detention

Holding of prisoner without bail

Punitive Damages

Damages in excess of actual loss awarded to wronged plaintiff to punish defendant

Replevin

Action to recover actual item of personal property rather than its value

Revoke

Annul of rescind a document decision or offer

Sequester

Isolate jury

Statute of Limitations

Legislative act limiting time in which plaintiff may bring civil suit or state may bring criminal action

Subpoena

Command to appear in court and testify

Tender

Offer money or property to fulfill an obligation

Testimony

Oral evidence given by witness

Waiver

Intentional abandonment of right

Warrant

Court order authorizing action by public officer, usually arrest or search and seizure

Writ

Written court order issued to serve administration of justice; usually stipulating that something be done or not be done

Jury Trial

Consideration of case by jury, as opposed to by judge or arbitrator

Interrogatories

Written questions answered under oath

Inquest

Official Inquiry or examination before jury; coroner's investigation of cause of death

Indictment

Criminal charges made by grand jury

Habeas Corpus

"Have the body"; court order requiring that detained prisoner be produced in court to inquire into legality of detention

Extradition

Transfer of accused fugitive from state where arrested to state where charged

Ex Post Facto

"After the fact"; fixing or changing punishment for an act after it was committed, now forbidden by U.S. Constitution