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Money or other security (such as a bail bond) provided to the court to temporarily allow a person's release from jail and assure their appearance in court. "Bail" and "Bond" are often used interchangeably.
Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his appearance on the day and time set by the court.
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An obligation signed by the accused to secure his or her presence at the trial. This obligation means that the accused may lose money by not appearing for the trial. Often referred to simply as "bond."
- Browse Related Terms: Bail, Bail bond, bond, Breach of contract, Coram, Nonfeasance, Specific performance, Surety Bond, Unilateral contract
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An officer of the court responsible for keeping order, maintaining appropriate courtroom decorum and custody of the jury.
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Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may be released or "discharged" from their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings. The person who owes the debts is called the debtor and the people or companies to whom the debtor owes money are called creditors.
A legal process by which persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts can seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, usually by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
- Browse Related Terms: Attachment, bankruptcy, claim, creditor, Debtor, Exempt property, Garnishment, Insolvent, replevin, Secured debts, Trustee, Unsecured debts, Voluntary bankruptcy, Writ of garnishment
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The judge who determines whether a debtor is entitled to a discharge in bankruptcy.
- Browse Related Terms: A priori, bankruptcy judge, presentence report, Probation officer, Registered mark, sentencing guidelines, Words and Phrases Legally Defined
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The area of federal law dealing with bankrupt persons or businesses.
- Browse Related Terms: Bankruptcy law, Cases, charge, Civil law, Corpus juris, Crime, Custodia legis, De Jure, De minimis non curat lex, Directed verdict, Ex lege, Facto, Family law, Intentional tort, Ipso jure, jurisprudence, Jus civile, Jus commune, Jus divinum, Law Clerk, Legislation, Legitimate, Lex, Lex domicili, Lex loci, Lex scripta, Mitigation, Research, Secundum legem, Statutory law
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1. Historically, the partition separating the general public from the space occupied by the judges, lawyers and other participants in a trial. 2. More commonly, the term means the whole body of lawyers.
- Browse Related Terms: BAR, Bench, Chief Judge, Clerk of Court, Contempt of court, Continuance, initial hearing, judge, Judiciary, law clerk (or staff attorney), librarian, Magistrate, magistrate judge, magistrate judges, minute book, opinion, Order, Precedent, Preliminary hearing, pretrial services, United States Magistrate Judge
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A state examination taken by prospective lawyers in order to be admitted and licensed to practice law.
- Browse Related Terms: Bar examination, Bylaws, Constitution, Disbarment, Martindale-HubbellLaw Directory, Quasi, Substantive law, Suspension, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Uniform Laws Annotated
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A beating or wrongful physical violence. The threat to use force is an "assault;" the actual use of force is a battery, which usually includes an assault.
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The seat occupied by the judge. More broadly, the court itself.
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Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts. (Also known as court trial.)
Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts. In a jury trial, the jury decides the facts. Defendants will occasionally waive the right to a jury trial and choose to have a bench trial.
Trial without a jury in which a judge decides which party prevails.
- Browse Related Terms: Additur, Bailiff, bench trial, Challenge, chambers, charge to the jury, Charge, jury, evidence, Finding, Finis, grand jury, In camera, Instructions, jury instructions, Non-jury trial, petit jury (or trial jury), pretrial conference, Remittitur, Sequester, Sidebar, Verdict
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An order issued by a judge for the arrest of a person.
- Browse Related Terms: Arrest warrant, Bench warrant, Initial appearance, Return, Search warrant, warrant
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Someone named to receive property or benefits in a will. In a trust, a person who is to receive benefits from the trust.
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To give a gift to someone through a will.
- Browse Related Terms: Bequeath, Bequests, Codicil, Disclaim, Ex dono, Lapsed gift, obinson-Patman Act, Self-incrimination, privilege against
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Gifts made in a will.
- Browse Related Terms: Bequeath, Bequests, Codicil, Disclaim, Ex dono, Lapsed gift, obinson-Patman Act, Self-incrimination, privilege against
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Primary evidence; the best evidence available. Evidence short of this is "secondary." For example, an original letter is "best evidence," while a photocopy of a letter is "secondary evidence."
- Browse Related Terms: Admissible evidence, Best evidence, circumstantial evidence, direct evidence, Exclusionary Rule, exculpatory evidence, Exhibit, Immunity, Impeachment of a witness, Inadmissible, Parol evidence, Prima facie case, Re-direct examination, Rebut, Rejoinder, Suppress
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Standard required to convict a criminal defendant of a crime. The prosecution must prove the guilt so that there is no reasonable doubt to the jury that the defendant is guilty.
The burden of proof that the State must establish in a criminal action.
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A prior decision by a court that must be followed without a compelling reason or significantly different facts or issues. Courts are often bound by the decisions of appellate courts with authority to review their decisions. For example, district courts are bound by the decisions of the court of appeals that can review their cases, and all courts – both state and federal – are bound by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States.
- Browse Related Terms: binding precedent, case law, Citators, Dictum (Pl. dicta), Dissent, Federal Reporters ("F.," "F.2d" or "F.3d"), Federal Supplement ("F. Supp."), Law, Moot, Obiter dictum, Official reports, Preliminary injunction, reporter, Reporters, Res adjudicata, United States Reports
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In good faith.
- Browse Related Terms: Bona fide, Mala, Mala fide, Malo modo, Semper fidelis
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See bail bond. A written agreement by which a person insures he/she will pay a certain sum of money if he/she does not perform certain duties.
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