Key Words
Administrative ruling A broadly applicable statement from an agency (e.g., attorney general’s office) that interprets a law
Affidavit Written document containing statements sworn to be true
Amicus brief Brief submitted by person or organization to advise a court on a particular issue in the case
Amicus curiae Person or organization not party to a case but permitted by the court to advise it on a particular issue
Appeal To ask a higher court to reverse the decision of a trial court
Appellate court/mid-level appeals court A court with jurisdiction to review decisions of trial courts
Brief A written legal argument submitted to the court
Circuit court (Usually) any of the federal courts of appeals
Civil litigation Dealing with civil or private rights, as opposed to criminal law
Co-counsel Two or more unaffiliated lawyers representing the same party in the same matter
Common law Body of law derived from judicial decisions rather than from statutes or constitutions
Complaint The document filed with the court to initiate a legal case
Constitutional amendment A change to the constitution of a nation or a state
De facto A state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes
De novo Anew, afresh, a second time
Defendant Party sued in a civil lawsuit or charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution
Deposition A witness’s written testimony for later use in court or for discovery purposes
Discovery The process of obtaining information before trial
Dissent The opinion of a judge of an appellate or high court that disagrees with the prevailing opinion
District court A trial court for federal cases
Equal protection The constitutional right to have the same access and be treated equally by the law
Executive The federal or state branch of government responsible for administering and enforcing laws
Federal court The United States national court system; handles civil and criminal cases
Filing Papers served upon a party in a case and filed with a court
Guardian Person appointed by a judge to take care of a minor child or incompetent adult
Guardian ad litem Person appointed by the court to take legal action on behalf of a minor or an adult
High court A state’s highest court (usually the state supreme court), or in the federal system, the United States Supreme Court
Impact litigation Precedent-setting cases designed to affect large numbers of people and bring about meaningful social change
In loco parentis Functioning in the place of a parent; charged with a parent’s rights, duties and responsibilities
Interrogatory A written request for further information in the discovery phase of a case
Intervenor/intervene To obtain the court’s permission to enter into a lawsuit that has already started between other parties
Judiciary The federal or state branch of government responsible for upholding the law and constitution and administering courts to decide disputes
Jurisdiction The authority given by law to a court to try cases and rule on legal matters within a particular geographic or issue area
Jurisprudence The entire subject of law, the study of law and legal questions
Legislative Of or relating to lawmaking or to the power to enact laws
Legislator One who makes laws within a given jurisdiction
Legislature The federal or state branch of government responsible for enacting laws
Liability The legal responsibility for one’s acts or omissions
Majority opinion An opinion joined by more than half of the judges considering the case
Material fact A fact that is significant or essential to the issue/matter at hand
Motion A formal request made to a judge for an order or judgment
Order A command, direction or instruction by a court or judge
Petition Formal written request to a court for an order (command, direction or instruction) of the court
Plaintiff Party who initiates a lawsuit
Pleadings Written allegations by the parties of their respective claims and defenses
Precedent A reported opinion of an appeals court that establishes the authority in the future on a given legal question
Pro bono Legal work donated by lawyers
Procedural Relating to the rules used in lawsuits and litigation proceedings
Recuse/recusal A judge’s abstention from participation in a decision due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest
Remand To send back to a lower court
Standing The right to file a lawsuit or file a petition in a given matter
State supreme court The highest state court in the state court system
Statute A federal or state written law enacted by the Congress or state legislature
Statutory law Written law set down by a legislature or other governing authority, as distinguished from a constitution or common law developed through legal cases
Summary judgment Court order ruling that no issues of material fact are in question, and therefore a case can be decided without trial
Trial court Court that hears the original arguments in a case, may include a jury
U.S. Supreme Court The highest court in the United States, which has the ultimate power to decide constitutional questions
Venue The proper or most convenient location for trial of a case
Voir dire The questioning of prospective jurors by a judge and attorneys in court
Writ An order issued from a court requiring the performance of a specified act, or giving authority to have it done
