Affidavit
A written document sworn on oath before a person with authority to administer it. The
A written document sworn on oath before a person with authority to administer it. The
Defence to a criminal charge on the grounds that the accused was somewhere other than
Said to be the case, but not yet proved.
An appeal is when a higher court reviews the decision made by a lower court.
A person who appeals (q.v.) a decision of a court or tribunal.
‘Appellate jurisdiction’ is the authority of a court to deal with appeals that relate to
To take into custody.
Refuge or protection from persecution, usually in another country.
A person who is not a judge or magistrate but who has authority to grant
The standard of proof (q.v.) required in civil law (q.v.) cases, i.e. it is more
A person who is left something in a will, or a person for whose benefit
The standard of proof (q.v.) required in criminal cases.
A pre-existing attitude or opinion that favours one side over another in a dispute.
(1) A deed (q.v.) in which a person undertakes to do or refrain from doing
Former name of local laws (q.v.).
The ability to understand and give legal consent to an action or arrangement.
The law based on decisions made by judges in previous case. See: common law.
Community Based Order (CBO) is a sentencing order, as an alternative to imprisonment, requiring a
Law which is not criminal or church law (usually the former), it may mean law
A set of guidelines for fair practice developed for a specific industry or occupation. May
A sentence that is served partly in prison and partly in the community undergoing supervised
The part of English law traditionally based on common custom and being unwritten. Law which
A defence based on decisions in previous cases.
A court order that a person found guilty of a criminal offence must pay for
A person who begins a prosecution against another in the Magistrates’ Court, a plaintiff.
Process of resolving disputes which involves negotiations between parties, assisted by a conciliator. Conciliation aims
Money which must be provided to a witness subpoenaed (q.v.) to court to cover the
Protection against disclosure to an outside person of information revealed in a professional relationship, e.g.
A situation where a person’s own interests, or a duty towards someone else, may affect
Agreement to an action or arrangement. See also: informed consent.
A preliminary hearing in criminal cases where parties can try to reach agreement on some
To breach, neglect or refuse to comply with a particular requirement or condition.
The rights belonging to the owner or licensee of literary, artistic and dramatic works, films
An agreement creating an obligation contained in a deed (q.v.) or land title. A covenant
The questioning of a witness by the opposing party (q.v.) in a court case.
A sentence of imprisonment.
Control; e.g. when arrested and not free to leave; formerly, care and control of a
A court order for money to be paid as compensation for a loss suffered as
To be treated as.
Publication of false and derogatory statements about another person, without any justification recognised by law.
A formal denial of an alleged fact raised by the plea of not guilty.
A person who has been charged with a criminal offence, or whom a civil action
See: Regulations.
Decision.
Giving particular information to another party as required by a contract or legal process.
A procedure by which documents relevant to a civil (q.v.) action are exchanged between the
Power to choose whether to do or not to do a certain thing, e.g. investigate
A framework, set of rules, procedural steps, or test, often established through precedent (q.v.) in
A lawyer at the court who provides free legal assistance to people appearing in court
The obligation of a person to exercise reasonable care in the conduct of an activity.
To make people obey (a law, the terms of an agreement, etc). Also: enforceability.
The action of recovering land or property from an occupier or tenant by legal proceedings.
Questioning of a witness in court by the party that called that witness, c.f. cross-examination.
Amount of money the insured person has to pay towards the cost of settling a
A document or thing shown to a witness when giving evidence, produced for inspection to
The process used when a person in one state or country has committed a crime
Examination of the body of a person suspected of having committed an offence, or the
The right to belong, or not belong, to an industrial association (trade union).
A person who has the right and duty to protect another person, his or her
To have the body. A prerogative writ (q.v.) directed to a person who holds someone
A police “line up” held so a witness to an offence can try to identify
In place of. So: time in lieu – agreement to allow time off instead of payment for
Not allowed; i.e. not able to be used as evidence in a court action.
A not-for-profit community organisation with a separate legal identity and a structure regulated by legislation.
A serious crime which is generally triable before a judge and jury.
The document that lists the charges against the accused in County or Supreme Court proceedings.
The legal term for a person under 18, used particularly in family law and civil
A person who lays an information, i.e. a criminal charge (q.v.). Usually a police officer.
Agreement given for something to be done, after the procedure has been fully explained so
Notice showing that an offence (usually a driving offence) has been committed and the penalty
A court order which directs someone either to do, or to refrain from doing, a
Unable to pay debts in full.
A non-custodial sentence (q.v.) with very strict conditions attached.
The asking of questions. In criminal cases, the questioning of suspects by police. In civil
Court order restraining a person from harmful or annoying conduct.
Review by a court of an administrative act (q.v.) on the basis of fault in
The ‘jurisdiction’ of a court is the authority of that court or tribunal to hear
A panel of people selected from the general public to decide the guilt or innocence
A document of agreement between a landlord and a tenant, for rental of premises.
Legal responsibility, e.g. for breaking a contract, committing a crime. It may be civil (q.v.)
The publication of defamatory material in permanent form. See also: defamation, slander.
Court proceedings in civil matters (q.v.). A litigant is one of the opposing parties (q.v.)