Category: dictionaries

The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burden of proving his or her case. In […]

A bankruptcy case in which the debtor is a business or an individual involved in business and the debts are for business […]

A crime punishable by death. Source: US Courts Glossary

A complete collection of every document filed in court in a case. Source: US Courts Glossary

The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and […]

The number of cases handled by a judge or a court. Source: US Courts Glossary

A legal claim. Source: US Courts Glossary

The offices of a judge and his or her staff. Source: US Courts Glossary

A reorganization bankruptcy, usually involving a corporation or partnership. A Chapter 11 debtor usually proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its […]

A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to […]

A judge in the full-time service of the court. Compare to senior judge. Source: US Courts Glossary

The federal agency responsible for collecting court statistics, administering the federal courts’ budget, and performing many other administrative and programmatic functions, under […]

A term used to describe evidence that may be considered by a jury or judge in civil and criminal cases. Source: US […]

A lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case that begins by filing a complaint with the court, that is, a […]

A written or printed statement made under oath. Source: US Courts Glossary

In the practice of the court of appeals, it means that the court of appeals has concluded that the lower court decision […]

A juror selected in the same manner as a regular juror who hears all the evidence but does not help decide the […]

A procedure for settling a dispute outside the courtroom. Most forms of ADR are not binding, and involve referral of the case […]

Latin for “friend of the court.” It is advice formally offered to the court in a brief filed by an entity interested […]

The formal written statement by a defendant in a civil case that responds to a complaint, articulating the grounds for defense. Source: […]

A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one or more issues that a higher court review […]

The party who appeals a district court’s decision, usually seeking reversal of that decision. Source: US Courts Glossary

About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgment of a lower court (trial court) or tribunal. For example, […]

The party who opposes an appellant’s appeal, and who seeks to persuade the appeals court to affirm the district court’s decision. Source: […]

A proceeding in which a criminal defendant is brought into court, told of the charges in an indictment or information, and asked […]