Legal and Court Terminology

Flashcards for vocabulary related to law, crime, and the court system.

Advocacy

Supporting or arguing for a cause or policy.

Felony

A serious crime like murder or robbery, usually punished by more than a year in prison.

Misdemeanor

A less serious crime like petty theft or disorderly conduct, usually punished by less than a year in jail.

Defendant

The person accused of a crime or being sued in court.

Prosecutor

A lawyer who represents the government and tries to prove the defendant is guilty.

Civil

A legal case that deals with disputes between people or groups, not crimes.

Criminal

A case involving someone accused of breaking the law.

Interest Groups

Organizations that try to influence government decisions and laws.

Prosecutors

Lawyers who bring charges against someone accused of a crime.

Defense Attorney

A lawyer who defends the person accused of a crime.

Appeals

Asking a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court.

Settlement

An agreement reached before a case goes to trial.

Mediation

A neutral person helps two sides resolve a conflict without going to court.

Arbitration

A third party makes a decision to settle a dispute, and it’s usually binding.

Negotiation

Both sides talk to reach an agreement on their own.

Conspiracy

An agreement between people to commit a crime.

Strict Liability

Being legally responsible for harm even if you didn’t mean to cause it.

Restitution

Paying back money to someone you harmed or stole from.

Accomplice

A person who helps another person commit a crime.

Solicitation

Asking or encouraging someone to commit a crime.

Suicide

The act of taking one’s own life.

First Degree Murder

A planned and intentional killing.

Second Degree Murder

An intentional killing that wasn’t planned in advance.

Negligent Homicide

Causing someone’s death through careless behavior.

Statutory Rape

Sexual activity with a person below the legal age of consent.

Aggravated Rape

Rape that involves violence, a weapon, or serious injury.

Acquaintance Rape

Rape committed by someone the victim knows.

Arson

Intentionally setting fire to property.

Vandalism

Damaging or destroying property on purpose.

Uttering

Using or offering a fake document or check, knowing it’s false.

Stalking

Repeatedly following or harassing someone to make them feel unsafe.

Forgery

Making or changing a document with the intent to cheat.

Embezzlement

Stealing money you were trusted to manage.

Extortion

Getting something by threatening someone (also called blackmail).

Affidavit

A written statement sworn to be true.

Warrant

A legal document allowing police to make an arrest or search.

Racial Profiling

Suspecting someone of a crime based on race or ethnicity.

Exclusionary Rule

Evidence collected illegally can’t be used in court.

Miranda Rights

Rights police must read when arresting someone, like the right to remain silent.

Duress

Doing something illegal because you were forced or threatened.

Insanity

A defense claiming the person was mentally ill and didn’t understand what they did.

Infancy

A defense that the person was too young to be held legally responsible.

Entrapment

A defense saying police tricked someone into committing a crime.

Intoxication

A defense where someone says they were too drunk or high to understand their actions.

Self Defense

Using reasonable force to protect yourself from harm.

Lack of Intent

A defense that the person didn’t mean to commit a crime.

Alibi

Proof that the accused was somewhere else when the crime happened.

Subpoena

A court order to appear in court or provide documents.

Voir Dire

The process of questioning potential jurors to find any bias.

Plea Bargaining

When a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a trial.

Grand Jury

A group that decides if there’s enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.

Booking

The process of recording an arrest (name, photo, fingerprints).

Peremptory Challenge

Removing a juror without giving a reason.

For-Cause Challenge

Removing a juror because of a clear reason (like bias).

Public Defender

A free lawyer provided by the government for people who can’t afford one.

Capital Punishment

The death penalty; punishment by execution.

Defamation

Hurting someone’s reputation by making false statements.

Copyright

Legal protection for original works like books, music, or art.

Patent

A legal right to be the only one to make or sell an invention.

Liability

Legal responsibility for something, especially harm or damage.

Class Action

A lawsuit brought by a group of people with the same complaint.

Intentional Torts

Wrongful acts done on purpose that cause harm.

Slander

Speaking false statements that damage someone’s reputation.

Libel

Writing or publishing false information that harms someone’s reputation.

Infringement

Using someone’s protected work without permission.

Piracy

Illegally copying or distributing copyrighted materials.

Puffing

Exaggerating about a product in advertising; not considered illegal.

Negligence

Careless behavior that causes harm to someone else.

Torts

Civil wrongs that cause harm, like injury or damage to property.

Trespass

Entering someone’s property without permission.

Bait & Switch

Advertising a cheap product to attract buyers, then pushing a more expensive one.

Discrimination

Treating someone unfairly because of race, gender, religion, etc.

Federal Law

Laws made by the U.S. government.

State Law

Laws made by individual states.

Local Law

Laws made by cities or counties.

Jury

A group of citizens who decide the facts in a trial.

Indictment

A formal charge by a grand jury that someone committed a crime.

Contingency Fee

A lawyer gets paid only if you win the case, usually a percentage of the money awarded.