in invitum against the will of another.
injunction a court order that prohibits someone from carrying out a particular action.
injuria non excusat injuriam one wrong doesn't justify another wrong.
inquest a judicial inquiry. Also, a coroner's inquiry into a cause of death.
interrogation police questioning of suspects.
journalist's privilege the privilege of the media in some cases to keep sources of information confidential.
J.P. justice of the peace.
jump bail to fail to appear in court after posting bail.
jural pertaining to law and justice.
jurisprudence the science and philosophy of law.
jury of the vicinage a jury selected from the neighborhood where the crime was committed.
justice synonymous with judge.
laches a doctrine providing a defense to the defendant when the opposing party has delayed prosecution for an unusual amount of time.
larceny stealing.
leading question a query by lawyers in which the question to a witness suggests the wanted answer; allowed in court only in cross-examination.
libel malicious publication of falsehoods that defame a person.
lien a claim or hold on the property of another that secures a debt.
litigants the parties involved in a lawsuit. litigation legal process.
loan sharking loaning money with extremely high interest rates.
majority, age of when one legally becomes adult, usually considered to be age 18.
malfeasance a wrongful act.
malice the desire to harm others; an act performed with the willful disregard for the welfare of others.
malice aforethought a thought-out design, without justification, to harm others; the state of mind that distinguishes murder from manslaughter.
malicious arrest the arrest of a person without probable cause.
malicious prosecution an action to collect damages caused by a previous prosecution without probable cause and with malice.
malum in se an act that is illegal because it is inherently evil as judged by society. See malum prohibitum.
malum prohibitum an act that is illegal because it is prohibited by law for the welfare of the public and not necessarily evil.
mandate an order issued from a superior court to a lesser court.
manslaughter the killing of another without malice aforethought.
manslaughter, voluntary killing in the heat of passion.
manslaughter, involuntary killing someone accidentally, as through reckless driving.
material relevant, important.
material witness a witness whose testimony is absolutely vital to a case.
matricide the killing of one's mother.
mediation the settling of disputes out of court.
medical examiner coroner.
mens rea the evil intent or state of mind that accompanies a criminal act; in legal terms, the states of mind include "intentionally," "knowingly," "recklessly," and "grossly negligent."
miranda rule the requirement to read a person his or her rights (right to remain silent, right to a lawyer's presence, etc.) during an arrest and before police interrogation.
miscarriage of justice damages to a party due to court errors during litigation, sometimes requiring a reversal of judgment.
misdemeanors any crimes considered less serious and having less severe punishment than felonies.
misfeasance performing a lawful act in a dangerous or injurious manner.
misjoinder the joining of separate counts in an indictment.
mistrial a trial that is voided and terminated before a verdict is reached, due to a hung jury, court errors, or death of a juror or an attorney.
mitigating circumstances circumstances that lessen a person's guilt in a crime.
modus operandi the manner of operation; the method used by a criminal in accomplishing a crime.
moot court a make-believe court held in law schools to argue a moot case.
moral certainty to be certain beyond a reasonable doubt, but to be less so than absolutely certain.
moral turpitude depravity, dishonesty, vileness.
motion in a court proceeding, a request for a ruling.
negative pregnant a denial that, by being noticeably qualified or modified, implies an affirmation of facts.
negligence the failure to exercise care in a degree that would be expected from a reasonable person.
negligence, criminal reckless negligence resulting in injury or death. Also known as culpable negligence.
nemo est supra legis no one is above the law.
nolle prosequi Latin for "do not pursue," referring to a motion to dismiss a case because evidence for a successful prosecution is insufficient.
non compos mentis not of sound mind.
non vult contendere he will not contest. A defendant who neither confesses guilt nor contests the charges against him, thereby acquiescing to being treated as guilty by the courts.
nuisance anything indecent, offensive, obstructive, or disturbing to the free use of one's property.
pain and suffering a type of damages that can be recovered when the opposing party's wrongdoing results in emotional or physical pain.
palimony support payments similar to alimony but given to the partner in a defunct nonmarital relationship.
pander to pimp; to serve the sexual desire of others. Also, to promote obscene literature and movies.
panderer a pimp; one who serves the sexual interests of others.
paralegal a legal assistant.
paternity suit an action filed to determine the father of an illegitimate child and to gain financial support for that child.
patricide the killing of one's father.
penal pertaining to punishments or penalties associated with breaking the law.
penal code the body of laws concerning crime and its punishment.
perjury lying while under oath, a criminal offense.
petit jury a trial jury, as opposed to a grand jury. Also known as a petty jury.
physician-patient privilege the privilege of physicians to keep all forms of communication from a patient confidential unless the patient consents otherwise.
plaintiff in a court action, the person who files suit.
plea bargaining the negotiation between the prosecutor and the accused of a mutually satisfactory disposition of a case to expedite proceedings, usually involving a guilty plea in exchange for a lesser sentence.
plead to argue, persuade, or present a case in court.
polling the jury the surveying by the judge of the jurors for their individual decisions concerning the verdict, as requested in some cases by a criminal defendant.
polygraph a lie detector.
postmortem after death. Refers to the examination of a body by a coroner to determine cause of death.
power of attorney granting someone in writing the authority to perform specific acts on his behalf.