Legal Glossary Terms PDF

1. **Subpoena** - Order of the court requiring a witness to appear under penalty of law. 2. **Subrogation** - The substitution of one person in place of another with reference to a lawful claim, demand, or right, so that they succeed to the rights of the other. 3. **Vendee** - Buyer...

1. **Subpoena** - Order of the court requiring a witness to appear under penalty of law. 2. **Subrogation** - The substitution of one person in place of another with reference to a lawful claim, demand, or right, so that they succeed to the rights of the other. 3. **Vendee** - Buyer. 4. **Acromioclavicular joint** - The joint where the shoulder and collarbone meet. 5. **Adduct** - To draw a body part toward the median line of the body. 6. **Anastomosis** - A connection between two blood vessels. 7. **Bronchiectasis** - Dilation of the bronchial tubes. 8. **Bruit** - An abnormal sound or murmur heard during auscultation. 9. **Foramenotomy** - A surgical procedure to remove the roof of the intervertebral foramina to relieve nerve root compression. 10. **Gynecology** - The branch of medicine that treats diseases of the genital tract in women. 11. **Kymograph** - An instrument used to record variations or undulations in arterial pressure or other bodily functions. 12. **Laparoscopy** - A procedure for examining the interior of the abdomen using a laparoscope. 13. **Stapedectomy** - A surgical procedure to create a small opening in the stapes (a bone in the middle ear). 14. **Tibia** - The inner and larger bone of the lower leg, commonly known as the shinbone. 15. **Anti-** - Prefix meaning against. 16. **Glyc-** - Prefix meaning sweet. 17. **Infra-** - Prefix meaning under or below. 18. **Antitrust laws** - Laws designed to protect trade and commerce from unlawful restraints, price fixing, and monopolies. 19. **Bench conference** - A conversation held by attorneys with a judge out of the hearing of the jury; may also be called a sidebar. 20. **Certificate page** - The last page of a transcript, signed by the court reporter to attest that the transcript is true and accurate. 21. **Certified question** - A question taken from a deposition and presented to a judge for a ruling. 22. **Elements of a civil trial** - Jury selection, opening statements, examination of witnesses, physical evidence, plaintiff rests, motion for directed verdict, defendant's case-in-chief, defendant rests, plaintiff's rebuttal, defendant's surrebuttal, closing arguments, jury instructions, jury deliberation and verdict, entry of judgment. 23. **Elements of a criminal trial** - Jury selection, opening statements, plaintiff's case-in-chief, defendant's case-in-chief, prosecution rebuttal and defense surrebuttal, closing arguments, jury instructions, jury deliberation and verdict, polling of jury. 24. **Elements of a transcript** - Title, index, stipulations, body, exhibits, certificate. 25. **Errata page** - A page where a deponent can correct errors in the transcript. 26. **Exhibit** - Material items of evidence introduced by attorneys to corroborate testimony or introduce new evidence, marked for identification. 27. **Federal Rule 30** - Part of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that defines matters pertinent to the taking of depositions. 28. **Impartiality** - The professional responsibility of the reporter to be fair and unbiased, and to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. 29. **Interpreted proceedings** - Proceedings in which a non-English-speaking witness testifies through an interpreter. 30. **Litigation support services** - Additional services offered by reporters or agencies, such as instant viewing, ASCII disks, keyword indexing, and transcript options. 31. **Oath** - A form of attestation where a person swears to tell the truth, often invoking a deity. 32. **Affirmation** - A form of oath where all reference to a deity is omitted; an affirmation of truth. 33. **Protective order** - An order issued by the court to protect certain documents or individuals from harassment or service of process. 34. **Reporter\'s worksheet** - A preprinted form filled out by the reporter containing details such as date, time, and location of the proceeding. 35. **Style of the deposition** - The heading of a deposition, containing the names of the parties, venue, and case number. 36. **Voir dire** - The process of questioning prospective jurors or witnesses about their qualifications, biases, and knowledge. 37. **Witness setup** - The transcription of the witness\'s name, oath, and identification as to whether they are called by the plaintiff or defendant. 38. **Aka (a/k/a)** - Abbreviation for \"also known as,\" used to introduce an alias or alternate name. 39. **Abeyance** - A lapse in the succession of an estate during which title is not vested in any person. 40. **Abstract of title** - A summary of the chain of title to a property, showing the essential information and facts of record. 41. **Ad damnum** - The clause of a writ or declaration stating the damages claimed. 42. **Ad hoc** - For a specific case or purpose; temporary. 43. **Adjudication** - The process of rendering a decision, or the decision itself. 44. **Ad litem** - For the purposes of the lawsuit; appointed for a specific case. 45. **A fortiori** - With greater reason or more convincing force. 46. **Aliunde** - From another source; from outside. 47. **Allegation** - A statement of fact made in a pleading. 48. **Amicus curiae** - A \"friend of the court\"; a person or entity that offers information to the court on a legal matter. 49. **Ancillary** - Auxiliary; supplementary. 50. **Annotations** - Case summaries that construe statutes in commercially produced statute books. 51. **Answer** - The defendant's response to the plaintiff\'s petition or complaint. 52. **Ante** - Listed prior in the same index or material. 53. **Appearance** - The act of submitting oneself to the court officially, often by filing with the clerk. 54. **Appellant** - The party seeking to change the decision of a lower court by appealing to a higher court. 55. **Appellate court** - A court that hears appeals from decisions made by lower courts. 56. **Arraignment** - The formal hearing in which a defendant is called to plead to the charges in a criminal case. 57. **Arrearage** - Money that is overdue and unpaid. 58. **Asportation** - The act of carrying away; especially the felonious removal of goods. 59. **Attachment** - A legal procedure where a plaintiff secures a lien against the defendant\'s property to satisfy a potential obligation. 60. **Bates stamp** - A numbered stamp placed on each page of an exhibit to prepare it for trial. 61. **Battery** - Intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person without their consent. 62. **Bill of particulars** - A statement of specific acts or charges made by the defendant. 63. **Bill of sale** - A document evidencing the transfer of personal property. 64. **Brief** - A document filed by a lawyer arguing the law and facts of the case. 65. **Burden of proof** - The responsibility of a party to prove a fact in a case. 66. **Cannon** - A system of rules or standards. 67. **Caption** - The title or heading of a pleading, containing the court, parties, and document title. 68. **Causa mortis** - In contemplation of death. 69. **Caveat** - A warning or caution. 70. **Caveat emptor** - \"Let the buyer beware\"; the buyer assumes the risk for the quality of a product. 71. **Certiorari** - An appellate review proceeding examining the actions of an inferior court. 72. **Change of venue** - The process of moving a case from one jurisdiction to another. 73. **Chattel** - An item of personal property. 74. **Circumstantial evidence** - Indirect evidence from which one can infer facts. 75. **Civil** - Relating to private rights and remedies distinct from criminal law. 76. **Class action** - A lawsuit filed by a group of people with common legal issues. 77. **Clemency** - Leniency or forgiveness, often used in the context of criminal acts. 78. **Code** - A collection of all the laws in effect under a particular jurisdiction. 79. **Common law** - Law developed by judges through decisions and custom, rather than through written statutes. 80. **Complainant** - The party making a formal complaint in a legal action. 81. **Complaint** - The initial document filed by a plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit. 82. **Condemnation** - The taking of private property for public use, with compensation to the owner. 83. **Consideration** - The value (money, property, services) exchanged in a contract, making it binding. 84. **Contempt of court** - Actions that obstruct the court or disrespect its authority. 85. **Contingent fee** - A fee arrangement where the lawyer is paid only if the client wins the case. 86. **Contumacy** -- Stubborn 87. **Corpus Delicti** - The principle that a crime must be proven to have occurred through evidence that establishes both the occurrence of a wrongful act and the existence of criminal agency. For example, in homicide cases, it refers to the fact of death caused by a criminal act, not necessarily the physical body. 88. **Count** - A separate and distinct charge or allegation included within a complaint or indictment. Each count represents an independent basis for a legal claim or criminal charge. A single case may include multiple counts if multiple legal wrongs are alleged. 89. **Counterclaim** - A claim filed by a defendant in response to the plaintiff\'s lawsuit, asserting their own cause of action against the plaintiff. This allows the defendant to seek damages or other relief in the same legal proceeding. 90. **Countermand** - The act of revoking, canceling, or reversing an order, directive, or authorization previously given, often to nullify a command or prevent further action based on the original instruction. 91. **Court of Record** - A court that maintains a permanent and official record of all proceedings, including transcripts, filings, and decisions. These records are preserved as evidence and are available for review and appeal if necessary. 92. **Cross-Complaint** - A legal document filed by a defendant asserting a claim against another party in the same case, including the plaintiff or other co-defendants. It allows the defendant to bring in additional causes of action related to the original lawsuit. 93. **Cross-Examination** - The questioning of a witness by the opposing party during a trial or hearing. It aims to challenge the witness's testimony, credibility, or reliability and to clarify or contradict statements made during direct examination. 94. **Damages** - A monetary award sought or granted to compensate a party for loss, harm, or injury caused by another party's wrongful act or negligence. Damages can be compensatory (intended to make the injured party whole) or punitive (intended to punish wrongdoing). 95. **Declaratory Judgment** - A court judgment that defines the legal rights and obligations of the parties without requiring any further action or awarding damages. It resolves legal uncertainties and clarifies the law without imposing penalties or mandates. 96. **Decree** - A formal and authoritative order issued by a court that determines the rights and duties of the parties in a case. Often associated with family law, such as a decree of dissolution in divorce proceedings, or equity cases requiring specific performance rather than monetary damages. 97. Bottom of Form