ABC Law

Appeal

Referring a case to the higher court to reconsider lower court’s decision

What is Actus Reus ?

A latin phrase meaning the “illegal act”

What is Acquit ?

when a court lets a person go without any penalty

What is Aid ?

to assist somebody doing something illegal

What is Abet?

to encourage someone to commit an illegal act

What is bill ?

A proposed law; draw form of act or statute

What is bylaw ?

A rule made by a municipality (local law)

What is Citation ?

the reference for a legal cases (title of the case)

What is Codification(written) ?

The process of assembling a system of laws into the body of statutes.

What is Charging ?

explaining the question/term to the jury

What is Consecutive ?

One after the other (serving all the sentences)

What is Concurrent ?

Taking the highest term and serve it in the prison

What is Defendant ?

In civil law, the person who is being sued; in criminal law, the person charged with an offense.

What is Disclosure ?

The crown attorney have to give the file/information to the defense to work on the case

What is Entrenched ?

fixed firmly or securely in law

What is fundamental freedom ?

Basic freedoms, such as expression or religion, contained in the Charter under section 2 (4 subsections)

What is Greek law ?

First ones to introduce democracy and jury system

What is Habeas Corpus ?

A document that requires a person to be brought to court to determine if they are being legally detained.

What is Hybrid Offense ?

An offense that the Crown can prosecute as either an indictable or summary offense

What is indictable ?

A very serious of all criminal offense 

What is Infringed ?

Broken or violated as in an agreement or right that is infringed

What is Intermittent Sentence ?

Maximum sentencing of 90 days that starts on the weekend

What is Indeterminate sentence ?

A sentence for someone who is a dangerous offenders

What is Jurisdiction ?

Authority to do something, such as make laws

What is lobby ?

Attempt to influence government to benefit a particular group or organization

What is Mens Rea ?

latin term meaning  “the guilty mind”

What is Notwithstanding clause ?

The provision (clause) in the Charter allows governments to create certain laws that contradict Charter rights.

What is Plea bargain ?

An arrangement between prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient or an agreement to drop other charges

What is Precedent ?

A legal decision that serves as example or authority for similar subsequent cases

What is Plaintiff ?

The person suing in a civil law

What is Procedural law ?

The legal processes involved in protecting our rights

What is Quasi-Criminal law ?

When you violate a provincial law

What is Retribution

A deserved punishment for a wrong

What is Restitution (Compensation) ?

The act of making a good, restoring or compensating a person who has a wrong done to them

What is Repeal ?

The action of revoking a law

What is Reasonable limits ?

The provision (clause) in the charter stating that the Charter

rights and freedoms are not absolute, so they can be limited

if there is justification.

What is Substantive law ?

 The laws that outline your rights and obligations in society

What is a Statute ?

 A law or act passed by legislative body

What is Summary Offense ?

A minor criminal offense that is tried in a provincial court

What is a Surety ?

A person responsible for bailing someone out

What is a Tort law ?

the area of law dealing with damages caused by a person or organization

What is Ultra Vires ?

Being unable to change a law or act due to it being out of your jurisdiction.

What is verdict ?

The jury’s decision at the end of a trial or case.

What is Voir Dire ?

 A separate hearing where lawyers discuss whether evidence is admissible and can be entered as evidence in trial

What is Youth Criminal Justice Act ?

Governs the prosecution of people aged between 12 and 17 who have committed criminal offense.