Civil Litigation & Evidence Law Dictionary (Duhaime. org)

ABC Rule

An equitable exception to the general rule that attorney fees are not awarded, and which allows an award of attorney fees as consequential damages.

Abstract Instruction

An instruction given to a jury which though correct in law, is irrelevant.

Abuse of Process

The use of legal process in an improper or unauthorized manner.

Action

A formal demand to a court of law and of justice to resolve a dispute.

Actuary

Professionals uniquely skilled in the application of mathematics to risk management, contingent events and opportunity.

Ad Damnum

Latin: to the damage.

Addendum

An attachment to a written document.

Adjudicative Fact

Basic, core facts that must be proven by a party.

Adminiculum

Latin: some evidence tendered to support something else

Administration of Justice

The personnel, activity and structure of the justice system - courts and police - in the detection, investigation, apprehension, interviewing and trial of persons suspected of crime.

Advocate

The Scottish law term for a barrister; one who argues cases for clients before the Court.

Affiant

A person that is sworn to an affidavit; who gives evidence by way of an affidavit.

Affidavit

A statement which before being signed, the person signing takes an oath that the contents are, to the best of their knowledge, true.

Affirmative Defense

A reply to a claim which alleges facts from which it results that, notwithstanding the truth of the allegations of the complaint, no cause of action exists.

Aggravated Damages

Damages awarded by a court to reflect the exceptional harm done to a plaintiff of a tort action.

Ambidexter

A lawyer who purports to act for both sides.

Amicus Curiae

Latin: friend of the court.

Appeal

To ask a more senior court or person to review a decision of a subordinate court or person.

Appellant

The person who initiates an appeal of a judicial body's decision.

Attorney

An alternate word for lawyers or barrister and solicitor, used mostly in the USA.

Audi Alteram Partem

Latin; literally 'hear the other side'.

Audita Querela

An application to a court after judgment seeking to avoid execution of that judgment because of some event intervening between judgment and execution which compromises the judgment creditor's entitlement to execution.

Backing Sheet

A back cover page to a legal document designed to show, when folded, what the legal document is and who it is from.

Bad Faith

Intent to deceive. A person who intentionally tries to deceive or mislead another in order to gain some advantage.

Bailiff

A person acting with legal authority in the seizure of personal property; and, also, the official in each courtroom who attends to security within.

Balance of Probabilities

Burden of proof in civil trials.

Barrister

A lawyer that restricts his or her practice to the court room; a litigation specialist.

Bench

A judge in court session.

Best Evidence Rule

When a document is proposed as evidence, the original must be produced.

Bill of Costs

A formal itemized memorandum presented by the successful party to concluded litigation, to the other, as a proposal of costs and disbursements that the issuing party claims.

Blue Ribbon Jury

A jury consisting of highly qualified persons.

Bond

A written guarantee in regards to the fulfillment of a legal obligation.

Builders' Lien

A statutory charge against real property by those who have contributed material or manpower to its improvement.

Burden of Proof

A rule of evidence that makes a person prove a certain thing or the contrary will be assumed by the court.

Calderbank Letter

A species of settlement offer delivered in the form of a letter and which can be used in the event that it is rejected and subsequent to trial or hearing of the litigation which results in terms similar to the rejected offer, costs are spoken to.

Call To The Bar

The official moment that an individual is sworn or entered into a law society or state bar or court and thereafter licensed to practise law in that jurisdiction.

Capacity

The power to acquire and assert legal rights.

Cease and Desist Letter

A letter which advises a person to stop (cease and desist) using specified legal rights which are asserted by another.

Certificate of Pending Litigation

A registration or/of a notice or warning that litigation is ongoing as to ownership of a particular piece of land or other real property.

Certiorari

A formal request to a court challenging a legal decision of an administrative tribunal, judicial office or organization (eg. government) alleging that the decision has been irregular or incomplete or if there has been an error of law.

Challenge for Cause

A challenge of a prospective juror for which the cause is disclosed by the challenging party (or their lawyer), and submitted to the Court for decision.

Chambers

A court which sits to dispose of procedural matters.

Circumstantial Evidence

Evidence which may allow a judge or jury to deduce a certain fact from other facts which have been proven.

Citation

An order of a court to either do a certain thing or to appear before it to answer charges.

Civil Action

Any action that is not a criminal proceeding.

Civil Litigation

The conduct of a non-criminal matter in a court of law from initial advice to client(s) through to the enforcement of judgment.

Client-Solicitor Privilege

A right that belongs to the client of a lawyer that the latter keep any information or words spoken to him during the provision of the legal services to that client, strictly confidential.

Collaborative Law

A family law dispute resolution encouragement process set in writing which includes a promise to negotiate in good faith, to engage in the exchange of private and confidential information on a without prejudice basis, and a motivational commitment that the participating lawyers or law firms would withdraw if the negotiations fail.

Commissioner of Oath

A formal appointment or commission governments give to individuals empowering them to certify the oath of another upon documents, such as affidavits.

Commonality

A feature of a group of people seeking to be certified for a class action, that there are questions of law and fact common to the prospective group (class).

Common Fund

A fund recovered by a litigant or lawyer for the benefit of persons other than himself or his client, and that litigant or lawyer then entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee from the fund as a whole.

Common Pleas

A court to resolve civil disputes between private citizens and not otherwise involving the Crown.

Community of Interest

A term of class action law; a requirement for certification, that members of the proposed group represent a community of interests.

Competency

An individual's ability to understand the nature and object of legal proceedings being presented, and to consult with counsel.

Complete Diversity

A jurisdictional requirement of US district courts; that that all persons on one side of the controversy be citizens of different states than all persons on the other side.

Compromise Agreement

An agreement to settle a previously existing claim with a substituted performance.

Conflict of Laws

A specialized branch of law which resolves cases which have an element of conflicting foreign law.

Confrontation Clause

The constitutional guarantee in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution which requires that an accused person have the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him.

Consent Order

An order of the court in terms which have been contractually entered into by parties to the litigation.

Contemnor

A person found to have committed contempt of court.

Contempt of Court

Conduct that is disobedient, obstructive or contemptuous to the Court.

Contingency Fee

A method of payment of legal fees represented by a percentage of an award.

Contumacy

Intentional contempt of court.

Costs

A court order that the losing party in litigation must pay the successful party's expenses plus an additional allowance, the latter as a contribution towards the winner's legal fees.

Costs Follow The Event

An award of costs will generally flow with the result of litigation; the successful party being entitled to an order for costs against the unsuccessful party.

Costs if Demanded

An award of costs which is explicitly left to the discretion of the party to whom costs are awarded.

Costs in any Event of the Cause

An entitlement to costs of an interlocutory application regardless of the ultimate result of the main action.

Costs in the Cause

The general rule in the law of costs that the ultimate victor at trial may get his or her costs against the loser and including all interlocutory applications.

Counterclaim

A defendant's claim against a plaintiff.

Court of Record

A court of law which retains written records of its proceedings and which has the ability to fine or imprison.

Criminal Contempt

Contumacious behaviour or behaviour which tends to publicly depreciate the authority of the court or the administration of justice.

Cross Examination

The examination of a witness called by the other side at trial and for which leading questions are permitted.

Damages

A cash compensation ordered by a court to offset losses or suffering caused by another’s fault or negligence.

De Bene Esse

To take something for what it is worth, such as evidence collected for the time being, in the absence of, but in anticipation of, litigation, admissibility to be determined when such thing is sought to be used against another at trial.

Deem

To accept a document or an event as conclusive of a certain status in the absence of evidence or facts which would normally be required to prove that status.

Default Judgment

An order of the Court striking a claim because no appearance, answer, reply or defence has been filed within the applicable deadlines.

Defendant

The individual, company or organization who defends a legal action taken by a plaintiff and against whom the court has been asked to order damages or specific corrective action redress some type of unlawful or improper action alleged by the plaintiff.

Dehors

French for outside. In the context of legal proceedings, it refers to that which is irrelevant or outside the scope of the debate.

Deliberative Secrecy

The intentional concealment of the process of cogitating, consulting or other private methods of arriving at a judicial decision.

Demand Letter

A letter from a lawyer, on behalf of a client, that demands payment or some other action, which is allegedly due or in default.

Demurrer

A mostly obsolete motion put to a trial judge after the plaintiff has completed his or her case, in which the defendant, while not objecting to the facts presented, and rather than responding by a full defence, asks the court to reject the petition right then and there because of a lack of basis in law or insufficiency of the evidence.

De Novo

Latin: new.

Deponent

A person who gives evidence verified by oath, as within an affidavit.

Deposition

The official statement by a witness taken in writing (as opposed to testimony which where a witnesses give their perception of the facts verbally).

Dilatory Plea

A formal challenge which questions not the cause of action, but the propriety of the suit, or the mode in which the remedy is sought.

Direct Contempt

Contempt of Court which is aimed expressly against the dignity or authority of the Court itself in the person of its Judges or officers.

Discontinuance

A formal notice filed with the Court and served on the defendant, ending active litigation.

Discovery

The making known to the other side of a law suit, of all relevant evidence.

Dismissal Without Prejudice

A dismissal of an action before it is judges on the merits and leaves the parties as though the action had never been filed, subject to limitations in local Court rules.

Docket

An official court record book which lists all the cases before the court and which may also note the status or action required for each case.

Document

Any written thing capable of being made evidence.

Double Costs

A punitive measure against a litigant for that party’s failure, in all of the circumstances, to have accepted an offer to settle that should have been accepted.

Double Hearsay

Recitals of statements of others within a statement that is itself hearsay; an out-of-court declaration containing another out-of-court declaration.

Duces Tecum

Latin: bring with you.

Dying Declaration

Exception to the hearsay rule: a statement of fact made by a dying victim relating to the cause and circumstances of a homicide.

Embracery

Improper influence on a juror.

Empanel

Also, "impanel"; the official call to duty of a jury, usually as called by the clerk of the Court in which the jury is to act, and just before the jurors are sworn in.

En banc

(French) As a full bench.

Equitable Estoppel

A bar to a party from asserting a legal claim or defense that is contrary or inconsistent with his or her prior action of conduct.

Equity Delights to do Justice, and not by Halves

A maxim of equity that once invoked successfully, equity will, fully and with finality, resolve the dispute between the parties.

Esquire

A mostly informal title associated with those who practice law.

Essoin

A valid excuse for not appearing in Court when summoned.

Evidence

Proof of fact(s) presented at a judicial hearing such as a trial.

Examination for Discovery

A recorded oral examination of the other side to litigation before trial and under oath, but not before a judge, with a view to obtaining admissions or discovering facts.

Examination In Chief

The questioning of your own witness under oath.

Examination on Affidavit

An examination under oath of the deponent of an affidavit.

Exchequer

A court of law designed to determine claims by the Crown.

Ex Facie Contempt

Contempt committed outside the court.

Exhibit

A document or object shown to the court as evidence.

Ex Juris

Latin: outside of the jurisdiction.

Ex Parte

Latin: outside the awareness of a party; for one party only.

Expert Witness

A witness with a defined area of expertise and on that basis and strictly within that area, is allowed to give opinion evidence to the Court (or jury, as the case may be).

Facial Mapping

An identification technique which distinguishes unique facial characteristics of an individual.

Factum

The written summary of a litigant's position to be taken and expounded upon in a judicial proceeding, including a concise summary of relevant facts and law and brief arguments with reference to authorities where applicable.

Fieri Facias

Latin: that you cause to be made. Mostly used to refer to a writ of judgment enforcement obtained under the old common law of England.

Final Order

An order or judgment of the Court that finally disposes of the rights of the parties.

Fishing Expedition

A speculative demand for information without any real expectation about the outcome of the demand or its relevance to the litigation.

Forum Conveniens

The court or forum most suitable for the ends of justice.

Fresh Evidence

Evidence that existed at the time of the trial, but for various reasons could not be put before the court.

Ghostwriting

When a lawyer is hired to draft an official court document on behalf of a self-represented litigant.

Guardian Ad Litem

A guardian appointed to direct litigation on behalf and in the interests of a person otherwise incapable of managing their affairs.

Habit

A regular response to a specific situation.

Harmless Error

An error which beyond a reasonable doubt, did not contribute to a decision.

Hearing

The presentation of evidence before an adjudicating body as may be required for a full disclosure and challenge of alleged facts.

Hearsay

Evidence that is offered by a witness of which they do not have direct knowledge but, rather, their testimony is based on what others have said to them.

Hired Gun

An expert with a bias or who adapts his or her expert evidence to the requirements of the party that calls him/her as a witness.

Hostile Witness

A party's witness who demonstrates such adversity to answering questions that the trial judge allows leading questions to be put to that witness.

Husband-Wife Privilege

A special right that married persons have to keep communications between them secret and even inaccessible to a court of law.

Impanel

Also, "empanel"; the official call to duty of a jury, usually as called by the clerk of the Court in which the jury is to act, and just before the jurors are sworn in.

Implied Undertaking Rule

A party to whom documents are produced within litigation will not use them for collateral or ulterior purposes.

In Camera

A closed and private session of Court or some other deliberating body.

Increased Costs

A term of statute of costs which are in excess of party and party costs and which may equal or come close to completely indemnify the successful litigant.

Indigent

A poor person; not penniless but in need and who has no financial support from any other.

Indirect Contempt

Contempt of court which occurs not in the presence of a judge acting judicially, but which tend to degrade the court or to obstruct or embarrass the administration of justice by the court.

In Facie Contempt

Contempt of court that occurs in the face of the Court.

Inherent Jurisdiction

The residual, automatic and ex officio authority of a court of law to regulate proceedings before it including punishing contempt.

Inhibition

A legal procedure to prevent a debtor from compromising property upon which a creditor holds a charge.

Injunction

A court order that prohibits a party from doing something (restrictive injunction) or compels them to do something (mandatory injunction).

In Limine

Latin: at the beginning or on the threshold.

Inns of Court

The several professional associations of barristers, to which all barristers in England or Wales must belong to one, to wit, Lincoln's Inn, Middle Temple, Gray's Inn or Inner Temple.

In Personam

Latin: regarding a person; a right, action, judgment or entitlement that is attached to a specific person(s).

In Rem

Latin: regarding a thing; proprietary in nature; a right or judgment related to the use or ownership of an item of property.

Interest Reipublicae Ut Sit Finis Litium

Latin: in the interest of society as a whole, litigation must come to an end.

Interloper

A person who, without legal right, runs a business (eg. without mandatory licenses), or who wrongfully interferes or intercepts another's business.

Interrogatories

Pre-trial numbered and written questions on relevant matters to the litigation, sent to the other side of litigation, and for which reply is mandatory.

Inter Se

Latin: as between or amongst themselves.

Intervener

One who is given standing in litigation even though they were not originally a party.

Judicial Discretion

The power the law gives the Court or a judge to choose among two or more alternatives, each being lawful.

Judicial Immunity

Absolute immunity from civil liability for official decisions or acts.

Judicial Lien

A lien obtained by judgment or other judicial proceeding.

Judicial Misconduct

Conduct on the part of a judge that is prohibited and which could lead to a form of discipline.

Judicial Notice

A doctrine which enables a judge to accept a fact without the need of a party to prove it through evidence.

Judicial Review

A process where a court of law is asked to rule on the appropriateness of the decision of an administrative agency or tribunal.

Jurat

The written certification by a judicial officer that a deponent or affiant recognizes and endorses all parts of an affidavit he or she proposes to sign, and confirms that an oath has been administered in this regard to the affiant.

Jure Gestionis

The private or commercial acts of a state.

Jure Imperii

Latin: imperial authority.

Jurisdiction

Legal authority to judge or to act in a given situation or case.

Juror

A member of a jury; a person who has taken an oath to serve on a jury.

Jury

A group of citizens randomly selected from the general population and brought together to assist justice by deciding which version, in their opinion, constitutes 'the truth' given different evidence by opposing parties.

Jury Nullification

The extraordinary power of a jury to issue a verdict contrary to the law as applied to the proven facts.

Jury Secrecy Rule

A rule of law which prohibits the disclosure, by a member of a jury, of statements or opinions voiced during jury deliberations.

Jury Tampering

To unlawfully disrupt the independence of a jury member with a view to influencing that juror otherwise than by the production of evidence in open court.

Justiciability

A necessary prerequisite of a matter put to a court of law for resolution; that an actual and substantial controversy be at hand.

Kangaroo Court

A judicial proceeding or trial which has a predetermined outcome or where the basic legal rights of a party are jumped over.

King's Bench

Originally, the common criminal court of the common law; later, the general superior court.

Law of the case Doctrine

When a court decides upon a rule of law, that decision should continue to govern the same issues in subsequent stages in the same case.

Lawyer

An individual trained in the law and that has been certified to give legal advice or to represent others in litigation.

Leading Question

A question which suggests an answer; usually answerable by yes or no.

Legal Professional Privilege

A shield against disclosure of communications between a solicitor and his/her client.

Legislative Fact

Broad, general facts that are not unique and relate indirectly to the parties to litigation.

Levy

A seizure of specified property for the purposes of conversion into money.

Lex Fori

Latin for the law of the forum.

Lex Situs

A conflict of law rule that selects the applicable law based on the venue or location of something.

Liability

A legal obligation, either due now or at some time in the future.

Lien

A property right which remains attached to an object that has been sold, but not totally paid for, until complete payment has been made.

Limitations or Statute of Limitations

Loss of a legal right or cause of action because of the passage of time.

Lis Pendens

Latin: a dispute or matter which is the subject of ongoing or pending litigation.

Litigant

A person who is a party to a legal action.

Litigation

A dispute is in 'litigation' (or being 'litigated') when it has become the subject of a formal court action or law suit.

Litigation Loan

A loan made by a third-party to litigation, typically a finance company, to a litigant to finance the litigation, and often on harsh terms.

Litigation Privilege

Non-disclosure protection imposed on documents which come into existence after litigation commenced or in contemplation, and where they have been made with a view to such litigation, either for the purpose of obtaining advice as to such litigation, or of obtaining evidence to be used in such litigation, or of obtaining information which might lead to the obtaining of such evidence.

Locus

Latin: the place; venue.

Locus Regit Actum

Latin: The law of the place where the facts occurred.

Locus Standi

Latin: legal standing before a court.

Mandamus

A writ which commands an individual, organization (eg. government), administrative tribunal or court to perform a certain action, usually to correct a prior illegal action or a failure to act in the first place.

Mandate Rule

An inferior court has no power or authority to deviate from the mandate issued by an appellate court.

Manifest Abuse of Discretion

An American standard of judicial review: discretion exercised improvidently or thoughtlessly and without due consideration.

Mareva Injunction

A temporary injunction that freezes the assets of a party pending further order or final resolution by the Court.

Mary Carter Agreement

A partial settlement to litigation where some defendants settle by accepting a term of which is a loan by the settling defendant to the plaintiff, to be repaid by any monies recovered from the remaining defendant(s).

Master

A partly-empowered superior-level court judge, used mostly for interlocutory and procedural civil hearings.

Medical Expert

A witness tendered to offer opinion evidence within the confines of his or her area of medical expertise.

Minutes of Settlement

A formal record of a contract which settles one or more live issues before a Court.

Miscarriage of Justice

A substantial wrong which occurs during a trial which so infects the proceedings as to merit quashing the result on appeal.

Mis-joinder

When a person has been named as a party to a law suit when that person should not have been added.

Moot

A matter where the issue raised concerns a hypothetical or abstract question

Moot Court

A trial on a fictional or hypothetical issue, usually hosted by law schools, as training for future barristers or litigators.

Motion to Strike

A motion put to the Court to strike a pleading or evidence of a witness.

Natural Justice

Basic or fundamental judicial rights extended to a person with rights at issue.

Nemo Debet Bis Vexari Pro Una Et Eadem Causa

Latin: No-one shall be tried or punished twice in regards to the same event.

Nemo Judex In Parte Sua

Latin: no person can judge a case in which he or she is party or in which he/she has an interest.

New Evidence

Evidence of matters that occurred subsequent to the order appealed from.

Nolle Prosequi

Latin: no prosecution.

Non-joinder

When a person, who should have been made a party to a legal proceedings, has been forgotten or omitted.

Norwich Order

Pre-action third party discovery to an intended plaintiff without notice to the intended defendant.

Notice of Motion

A formal notice to participants in litigation of an intent to seek specific relief in an action.

Oath

A religious or solemn affirmation to tell the truth or to take a certain action.

Obiter Dictum

Latin: an observation by a judge on a matter not specifically before the court or not necessary in determining the issue before the court.

Obstructing Justice

An act which tends to impede or thwart the administration of justice.

Onus

Latin: the burden.

Opening Statement

A lawyer or litigant's initial remarks at trial, to the finder of fact, either a judge or jury, setting out their road-map or case theory.

Open Justice

A principle of the common law that proceedings ought to be open to the public, including the contents of court files and public viewing of trials.

Out-of-Court Settlement

An agreement between two litigants to settle a matter privately before the Court has rendered its decision.

Overriding Error

A standard of appellate review, an error that must have altered the result or may well have altered the result.

Palpable Error

A standard of appellate review, an error that is readily or plainly seen.

Particulars

The material facts which a party to litigation alleges are true and which that party will seek to prove at trial in support of the relief claimed.

Party and Party Costs

The standard award of costs being, in the result, a partial indemnity to the successful party to litigation for his or her litigation expenses.

Past Recollection Recorded

An exception to the hearsay rule, whereby evidence of which a witness has no current recall can nonetheless be admitted for the truth of its contents as it was recorded at a time when the witness was able to verify its accuracy.

Pauper's Oath

An affidavit of indigence, of poverty.

Pendente Lite

Latin: during litigation.

Peremption

A period of time fixed by law for the existence of a right.

Peremptory Challenge

Also "preemptory challenge"; a party's challenge of a prospective juror for which no reason or justification need be given.

Per Incuriam

Latin: through want of care.

Perpetual Injunction

A permanent injunction.

Personal Interest

An interest in either the subject matter or a relationship with the parties before a judicial body.

Personal Jurisdiction

The court's authority to determine a claim affecting a specific person.

Personal Knowledge

Something a witness actually saw or heard.

Perverse Verdict

A decision of a jury which runs altogether contrary to the evidence presented before it.

Petition

The formal, written document submitted to a court, and which asks for the court to redress what is described in the petition as being an injustice of some kind.

Petitory Suit

An action in maritime law in which a person seeks to obtain a judgment as to title of a vessel independently of possession.

Piecemeal Litigation

Circumstances in which more than one court is seized of the adjudication of the same issue.

Pierringer Release

A proportionate share settlement agreement

Plaintiff

The person who initiates, who brings or files a case with a court; who sues.

Pleadings

That core document(s) of a party to litigation in which he or she formally sets out the facts and the law which support that party's position.

Plea to the Jurisdiction

A preliminary challenge to a court's authority to decide the action before it.

Poinding

Scottish law: The seizure of a judgment debtor's personal property to satisfy the terms of the judgment.

Polygraph

A lie-detector machine.

Possessory Action

Where a party entitled to possession of a vessel seeks to recover that vessel.

Practice of Law

The giving of legal advice or of representation of another as agent in a court of law or through rules of court, or in the preparation of legal documents or in dispute or contractual negotiation.

Præcipe or Precipe

Latin: an initiating document presented to a court clerk to be officially issued on behalf of the court or a the covering memo or letter from the lawyer (or plaintiff) which accompanies and formally asks for the writ to be issued by the court officer.

Preemptory Challenge

Also "peremptory challenge"; a party's challenge of a prospective juror for which no reason or justification need be given.

Preponderance

Evidence that persuades a judge or jury to lean to one side as opposed to the other, during the course of litigation.

Prescription

A method of acquiring or extinguishing rights through the inaction of the legal owner.

Present Memory Revived

A facilitative mechanism used at trial to assist a witness in recalling his or her memory, thus revived.

Priest and Penitent Privilege

A privilege suggesting the exclusion from evidence of matters discussed during a confession between a Roman Catholic priest and a penitent.

Prison Mailbox Rule

(USA) A rule of procedure which deems that any court document mailed by a self-represented inmate is deemed filed on the date of delivery to prison authorities for mailing.

Probative

Tending to prove.

Pro Bono

Latin: for the good.

Pro Se

Latin: on one’s own behalf.

Purge

To apologize or the taking of such other action as may be deemed by a court of law to suffice for the purposes of vacating a charge of contempt of court.

Quasi-Judicial

Administrative tribunals or government officials which, in their decision-making process, are subject to the rules of natural justice.

Queen's Bench

Originally, the common criminal court of the common law; later, the general superior court.

Question of Discretion

Where an appeal predominantly takes issue with the lower court's exercise of judicial discretion.

Question of Fact

Questions about what actually took place between the parties.

Question of Law

Questions touching the scope, effect or application of a rule of law which the courts apply in determining the rights of parties.

Question of Mixed Law and Fact

An appellate standard of review of a lower court's order where the appeal issues are divided between question(s) of fact and question(s) of law.

Qui Tam

Latin: who as well.

Quo Warranto

Latin: legal procedure taken to stop a person or organization from doing something for which it may not have the legal authority, by demanding to know by what right they exercise the controversial authority.

Ratio Decidendi

Latin: reasons for a decision.

Reconvention

A rule of jurisdiction which enables a counterclaim against another who, although otherwise beyond the jurisdiction of the court, has voluntarily submitted to jurisdiction by iniating the principal action.

Recross Examination

The resumption of cross-examination by the original cross-examiner in order to respond to matters that may have arisen during the re-examination of a witness.

Recusation

An application made to a judge that he/she not hear a particular case because of a real or perceived conflict of interest; that the judge recuse himself (abstain) from the case.

Red Herring

An irrelevant legal issue.

Redirect Examination

The re-opening of an examination-in-chief after cross-examination, to cover matters that may have arisen during cross-examination.

Remedy

Remedial judicial action to right a wrong or to prevent a infringement upon a legal right.

Replevin

A legal action taken to reclaim goods which have been distrained.

Res Judicata

Latin: already subject to judicial determination.

Res Noviter Veniens Ad Notitiam

Latin: Fact(s) newly coming to knowledge.

Respondent

The party that responds to a claim filed in court against them by a plaintiff.

Retraxit

Latin: a withdrawal of a legal action.

Reverse Payment

A payment by a patent holder to an infringer in consideration of the infringer's cease and desist.

Rules of Court

Rules of procedure and conduct during the sitting of a court of law uniformly applicable to litigants and their lawyers, and governing the hearings of claims and motions, and defences or responses thereto.

Runaway Witness

A witness who, while under cross-examination, is unresponsive.

Scandalizing the Court

Personal scurrilous abuse of a judge as a judge.

Sealing Order

A Court order that restricts access to or disclosure of any record or document filed in a proceeding.

Security for Costs

Payment or deposit of money or some form of security in lieu thereof, into court, by a litigant to secure the payment of such costs if such person does not prevail.

Sequestered Jury

A jury which has been confined to a location where they can be shielded from outside distractions while their deliberations are ongoing.

Sequestration

The taking of someones property, voluntarily (by deposit) or involuntarily (by seizure), by court officers or into the possession of a third party, awaiting the outcome of a trial in which ownership of that property is at issue.

Sharp Practice

Prohibited conduct by a licensed lawyer in taking, or attempting to take advantage of a slip or overlooked technical matter by the other side to litigation, and to agree to reasonable requests which either prejudice his client or the interests of justice.

Sine Die

Latin: without a day. Taken to mean without fixing a day for continuation.

Solicitor and Client Costs

An award of all costs associated with litigation.

Solicitor and Own Client Costs

One of the most punitive awards of costs, requiring a party to pay the other's legal bill.

Special Costs

A scale of costs generally equivalent to solicitor and client costs and also approaching complete indemnity to the successful litigant.

Special Jury

A jury drawn to certain specifications given the alleged complexities of the matter to be tried.

Standard of Review

The applicable threshold of an appeallable error; often distinguishable as between questions of law, of fact, or mixed questions of fact and law.

Standing

The ability to sue and speak to the Court on a controversy based on personal interest in the outcome.

Stare Decisis

Latin: stay with what has been decided.

Statement of Claim

The document which sets out the plaintiff's allegations of fact and thus, engages the judicial process by seeking trial.

Statement of Defence

A defendant's written answer or reply to a statement of claim, admitting or denying each and every one of the facts contained in the statement of claim and alleging such facts as the defendant wishes to assert at trial in opposition to the plaintiff's case.

Statute of Limitations

A procedural rule which limits the time in which a party may bring an action for a right which has already accrued.

Statute of Repose

The deadline set by statute on the assertion of a right by litigation.

Statutory Lien

A lien arising solely by force of a statute on specified circumstances or conditions.

Stay

To stop; to suspend; also known as a stay of proceedings; when a law suit is suspended either indefinitely or until the occurrence of a condition imposed by the court.

Stenographer

An individual employed to receive and transcribe dictation.

Stipulated Judgment

USA: consent order.

Stipulation

(USA law) An agreement between the parties with respect to an issue before the court.

Style of Cause

The formal title of the proceedings in a court of law, usually the action number, the name of the court and the full, formal and complete name(s) of the plaintiff(s) and that of all defendant(s).

Sub Judice

Latin: under judicial consideration.

Subpoena

Latin: an order of a court which requires a person to be present at a certain time and place or suffer a penalty (subpoena means, literally, under penalty).

Substantive Law

Core law which determines rights and obligations, as opposed to procedural law.

Summary Judgment

A court order dismissing a claim summarily, upon application, and based on the allegation that there is no claim or defence with a reasonable prospect of success.

Summary Trial

The trial of an action by way of affidavit evidence only or by use of truncated process.

Summons

In the USA, this is one of the initial documents issued in a civil suit; giving the defendant notice of the claim and an opportunity to defend it.

Super Injunction

An injunction obtained in a secret convening of the court where in the result, the court file, the names of the parties and even the terms of the injunction order are secret except as between the parties, counsel, the judge and the court staff.

Supersedeas

An application to a court to stay proceedings; most frequently, to stay enforcement or collection proceedings upon a judgment.

Supersedeas Bond

A contract by which a surety obligates itself to pay a final judgment rendered against its principal under the conditions stated in the bond.

Surplusage

Superfluous allegations, especially in regards to pleadings.

Tales

The act of supplementing a jury otherwise incomplete.

Talesmen

Additional jurors summoned to complete a jury.

Taxation of Costs

The formal quasi-judicial review of a bill of costs or other determination of costs payable by one litigant to another.

Temporal Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction of a state or of a court of law over a legal action as it may be affected by the effects or passage of time.

Testimony

The oral evidence of a witness in a judicial proceeding, such as a trial.

Theory of the Case

A short, succinct statement of the theme of an action as evidence will be presented, organized and support at trial.

Third Party

A person who is not privy to a contract or a party in a lawsuit.

Transit In Rem Judicatam

Latin: The cause of action is changed into matter of record, which is of a higher nature, and the inferior remedy is merged in the higher.

Trial

The resolution of a dispute by examination of evidence submitted by opposing litigants by a tribunal or Court of law, and determination of (1) guilt (in a criminal trial) or (2) of a civil dispute of fact or law.

Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium

Latin: For every wrong, the law provides a remedy.

Ultra Petita

Latin: beyond that which is sought.

Ultra Vires

Latin: without authority.

Unfavourable Witness

When a witness called by a party merely gives unfavorable answers to questions posed during examination in chief, that party may not cross examine the witness but may still lead evidence in contradiction.

Venue

Location or proposed district of a judicial hearing.

Verdict

French: truth told; the decision of a jury.

View

The displacement of a judge and jury to the location of events which are being described at trial.

Viva Voce

Latin: by voice.

Voir Dire

A mini-hearing held during a trial on the eligibility of prospective jurors or the admissibility of contested evidence.

Want of Prosecution

An application to a judge to dismiss a law suit alleging that the litigant has inexcusably delayed moving the litigation along and that under the circumstances, the litigation ought to be dismissed.

Warrant

A document giving a person legal authority to do a certain thing.

Withdrawal

A cancellation of a statement of defence or counterclaim by a defendant.

Without Prejudice

A reservation made on a statement that it cannot be used against in future dealings or litigation.

Witness

A person who perceives an event (by seeing, hearing, smelling or other sensory perception).

Writ

An official court document, signed by a judge or bearing an official court seal, which commands the person to whom it is addressed, to do something specific.

Zealous Witness

A witness who demonstrates disproportionate enthusiasm while testifying.