| Acquittal |
A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction.
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| Affidavit |
A written or printed statement made under oath.
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| Appeal |
A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was correct. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the "appellant;" the other party is the "appellee."
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| Biker |
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| Brief |
A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate proceeding that explains one side's legal and factual arguments.
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| Burden of proof |
The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden of proving the defendant's guilt.
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| Civil lawsuit |
A lawsuit in which one does not need to prove criminal liability.
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| Class Action |
A lawsuit in which one or more members of a large group, or class, of individuals or other entities sue on behalf of the entire class. The district court must find that the claims of the class members contain questions of law or fact in common before the lawsuit can proceed as a class action.
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| Clerk of court |
The court officer who oversees administrative functions, especially managing the flow of cases through the court. The clerk's office is often called a court's central nervous system.
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| Compensation |
Monetary award transferred from defendant to plaintiff to make up for some wrong damage or injury caused by the defendant's actions or inaction.
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| Complaint |
A written statement that begins a civil lawsuit, in which the plaintiff details the claims against the defendant.
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| Court reporter |
A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court, generally by using a stenographic machine, shorthand or audio recording, and then produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
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| Damages |
Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won. Damages may be compensatory (for loss or injury) or punitive (to punish and deter future misconduct).
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| Defendant |
An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.
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| Deposition |
An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial. See discovery.
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