Legal Lingo: Legal Lingo, List 6

Explore this list of lawful lingo pro bono.

Here are links to our lists in the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rebuttal
    a pleading by a defendant in reply to a plaintiff
    We finished the presentation of our evidence and, to our surprise, the State put on no rebuttal case. Just Mercy
  2. recuse
    disqualify oneself as a judge in a particular case
    Through my cross-examination and attempts to force the judge to recuse himself, I had made the statements I wanted about the unfairness of the court. Long Walk to Freedom
  3. tort
    a wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought
    Mrs. Howell, 37, is a partner in Harris Beach, a law firm in New York, where she tries cases defending pharmaceutical and other FDA-regulated companies facing mass tort and class-action lawsuits.
    – The New York Times
  4. alimony
    support paid by one spouse to another after separation
    It was a court order addressed to Jack So-and-so, informing him that if he didn’t pay his back alimony he would be in contempt and punishable. Travels with Charley in Search of America
  5. adjudication
    the final judgment in a legal proceeding
    And juveniles don’t have trials but “adjudication hearings.” Black Brother, Black Brother
  6. ex parte
    (law) done on behalf of or involving only one party
    The restraining order was granted ex parte, which means neither Martin nor his team were in court to respond to the allegations. BBC
  7. appellant
    relating to challenges to a legal decision
    In fact, the Bar Counsel alleged, Pierre “never represented any client in any federal appellate court and never represented a client in any Maryland appellant court resulting in a reported opinion.”
    – The Washington Post
  8. burden of proof
    the responsibility to show evidence of a disputed claim
    The burden of proof is on the prosecution. Twelve Angry Men
  9. notary public
    someone legally empowered to witness signatures and certify documents
    You know how hard it is to find a notary public in a hospital? The Voyage Of The Frog
  10. eminent domain
    a right of the state to take private property for public use
    I remember as a child we used to stay there every summer, and that house was taken by eminent domain, and they put a highway right through her house.
    – Salon
  11. punitive damages
    extra money that punishes the defendant and compensate the plaintiff
    The lawsuit sought at least $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
    – Reuters
  12. pro bono
    done for the public good without compensation
    The old adage “Talk is cheap until you hire a lawyer” didn’t apply to Bobby since he had two high-profile lawyers working for him pro bono. Endgame
  13. mitigating circumstance
    something that does not exonerate a person but reduces a penalty
    Burnett would normally have received a two-year suspension, but this was reduced because of mitigating circumstances he offered to the anti-doping tribunal.
    – BBC
  14. exculpatory
    clearing of guilt or blame
    In ruling against LaMar, some appellate panels found that, even if the withheld evidence had been exculpatory, it would not have outweighed other evidence and led to a different verdict.
    – The New York Times
  15. capital offense
    a crime so serious that it can result in the death penalty
    Should assaulting an officer of the state be a capital offense, rendered without trial, with the officer as judge and executioner? Between the World and Me
  16. in camera
    kept private or confined to those closely concerned
    Yutar asked that the evidence be given in camera, but that the press be included provided that they not identify the witness. Long Walk to Freedom
  17. summary judgment
    a judgment rendered by the court prior to a verdict because no material issue of fact exists and one party or the other is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law
    The publication asserted in a summary judgment motion that it had a First Amendment right to the merchandise, which a judge declined to grant without seeing more evidence.
    – Reuters
  18. paralegal
    a person with specialized training who assists lawyers
    A paralegal, who is not a lawyer, whom I also don’t know, says everything might be all right. The Sun Is Also a Star
  19. estoppel
    a rule blocking someone from denying their past actions or claims in court
    That became the basis for their defense, known as entrapment by estoppel, in which a defendant essentially argues that he broke the law based on bad advice from a government official.
    – Los Angeles Times
  20. mens rea
    criminal intent
    I’m the only true authority on this because only I know the mens rea involved.
    – The Washington Post
Created on Wed Feb 14 11:00:06 EST 2024 (updated Thu Mar 14 09:30:54 EDT 2024)

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