Society and institution 10

bend the law / rules

break the law or rules in a way that is considered not to be very harmful

contravene a law

break a law

infringe a law / rule

break a law or rule

impeach a president / governor

make a formal statement saying that a person in public office has committed a serious offence

lodge an appeal

make an official request that a previous judgement should be changed

uphold a verdict

say that a previous decision in court was correct

overturn a verdict

say that a previous decision in court was incorrect

pervert the course of justice

make it difficult for justice to be done

quash a conviction

change a previous official decision that someone was guilty

set a precedent

establish a decision which must usually be taken into account in future decisions

award / grant custody to

give one parent or adult the main responsibility for a child

annul an agreement / marriage / law

declare that a contract, marriage or law no longer exists and never existed

sue someone

take legal action against someone

allege

say that someone has done something illegal without giving proof

amend a law

make changes to a law

discrimination

unfair treatment on grounds of sex, race or nationality

discriminate against

treat someone unfairly on grounds of sex, race, or nationality

embezzlement

stealing money that belongs to an organisation that you work for

embezzle

steal money that belongs to an organisation you work for

embezzler

a person who illegally steals money belonging to an organisation they work for

harassment

putting undue pressure on someone, e.g. for sexual reasons or to get a debt repaid

harass

put undue pressure on someone continuously

insider trading / dealing

illegal buying and selling of shares by someone who has specialist knowledge of a company

do / practise insider trading

illegally trade shares using specialist inside knowledge of a company

insider trader / dealer

person who engages in illegal insider trading

money laundering

moving money obtained illegally so that its origin cannot be traced

launder money

move illegally obtained money through businesses so its origin cannot be traced

money launderer

person who moves illegally obtained money to hide its origin

perjury

lying when under oath in a court of law

commit perjury

lie under oath in a court of law

perjurer

person who lies under oath in court

stalking

following someone or giving them unwanted or obsessive attention

stalk

follow someone continuously or give them unwanted obsessive attention

stalker

person who obsessionally follows or harasses another person

trespass / trespassing

going onto someone else's land without permission

trespasser

person who goes onto someone else's land without permission

law-abiding

obeying the law

law-breaker

someone who does not obey the law

take the law into your own hands

do something illegal to punish someone because you feel the legal system will not

lay down the law

say with great force what you think should happen

be a law unto oneself

behave in a way which is independent and not the way in which most other people behave