Legal Terms

Here’s a list of a few legal terms that you might find in courses &c.

Abet To aid in the commission of an offence.
Absolute Discharge The court may grant a convicted person an absolute discharge. (absolute = complete and unconditional).
Accomplice Any person who, either as a principal or as an accessory, has been associated with another person in the commission of a crime.
Accused A person charged with an offence.
Acquittal The discharge from prosecution on the verdict of ‘Not Guilty’.
Act of Parliament Legislative decree by the Queen in Parliament.  These Acts consist of Public, General, Local Personal and Private.
Action The commencement of proceedings.
Adjournment The suspension of a hearing until a later date.
Advocate A person who pleads another’s case in court, such as a solicitor, barrister or authorised lay person.
Affidavit Written statement which is sworn or affirmed before a person authorised to administer oaths.
Affirm An alternative to taking an Oath, which may be contrary to a person’s religious belief.
Alternative Counts An indictment is divided into separate clauses, known as counts. Sometimes a number of counts may be founded on the same case facts, allowing the court an option for conviction.  If a person is convicted of one, they may not be convicted of the alternative counts.
Appeal Any proceedings taken to rectify or challenge a previous court decision. This is then heard at the higher court is leave to appeal is granted.
Arrest To deprive a person of their liberty by some lawful authority
Bona Fide In good faith, honestly without fraud or wrongdoing.
Case Law Law made by court decisions
Charge In criminal law this is the accusation
Circumstantial Evidence A series of circumstances leading to inference or conclusion of guilt, when direct evidence is not available.
Common Law English law that has been formulated by the development and administration of the old common courts based on the customs and practice.
Cross-Examination Examination of a witness by the opposition.
De Facto In fact.
De Jure By right.
Defendant A person whom an action or other civil proceedings are brought, including a criminal charge.
Deposition A statement on oath of a witness in judicial proceedings
Evidence The means, exclusive of mere argument, which tend to prove or disprove any matter of fact.
Examination Putting questions to a witness
Hearsay Evidence Evidence from a witness that derives from what another person has ‘told’ them in some way.
Indictment A formal document setting out the charges against the accused.
Judgment A decision of a court or judge.
Jurisdiction The limitations of legal authority which can be exercised by an authority or court etc.
Law An obligatory rule of conduct.
Leading Question Questions which directly or indirectly suggest to a witness the answer (s)he is to give.
Misdirection When a judge improperly or erroneously directs or informs the jury as to the law or evidence they have to consider.
Mitigation Where a defendant whose responsibility or guilt is not in dispute, but proves facts that tend to reduce the damages or punishment

to be awarded against him.
Plea An answer to a charge of guilty or not guilty.
Prima Facie On first appearance or on the face of it.

A case in which there is evidence which will suffice to support the allegation and will stand unless there is evidence to rebut the allegation. If this is not demonstrated by the prosecution at court, there is no case to answer.
R Abbreviation of REX or REGINA (King or Queen) used in law as the representation of the crown.  e.g. :  R v JONES.
Sessions Sittings of a court.
Statutes Acts of Parliament
Sub Judice In the course of trial and prevents discussion of the matter.
Summons A document issued from the office of a court of justice calling upon a person to whom it is directed to attend before a judge or officer of the court.
Testimony The giving of evidence in court
Trial The examination of a matter in a court of law.
Unsworn Statement A statement made from the dock by the accused whilst not under oath.
Utter To attempt to pass off a forged document, die or seal etc or counterfeit coin, as genuine when it is known to be forged.
Verdict The decision of a jury or court.
Warrant A written authority issued by a court.