Current Issues Vocab on Jury

Defendant

An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law

Hung jury

When a jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict

Double jeopardy

The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense

Abstain

To voluntarily refrain from doing something, such as voting in a deliberative assembly

Cross-examination

The formal interrogation of a witness called by the other party in a court of law to challenge or extend testimony already given

Motive

A reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not

Discrepancy

An inconsistency between the contentions of a party to a suit and the actual facts

Tenement (related to housing)

A piece of land held by an owner

Conceivable

Something is possible or could happen, even if it's hypothetical

Alibi

A claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place

Intimidate

When someone threatens or coerces another person to do something they don't want to do. Intimidation can be a criminal or civil offense