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Most Popular Legal Definitions
innocent passage
A term of international maritime law referring to a ship's right to enter and
pass through a coastal state's territorial water as long as it is not
prejudicial to the peace and order of the coastal state.
minutes
The official record of a meeting.
adverse interest
right or concern that is contrary to the interest or claim of another
intestate
To die without a will.
young offender
Young persons in many states are treated differently than adult criminals and
are generally tried in special youth courts.
general deterrence
A sentencing objective which aims to discourage persons other than the offender
from committing a similar offense. For example, harsh sentencing for being in
possession of a firearm along with crack cocaine is meant to be a general
deterrence towards the violent crime associated with distributing crack cocaine.
punitive damages
Special and highly exceptional damages ordered
by a court against a defendant where the act or omission which caused the suit
was particularly heinous or malicious.
waiver
An intentional relinquishment or abandonment of
a known right or privilege.
clear and present danger
The doctrine established in an opinion written by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in
Schenk vs. United States (1919) which is used to determine if a situation
creates a threat to the public, individual citizens or to the nation. If so,
limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press or assembly.
small claims
A regular court but which has simplified rules of procedure and process to deal
with claims of a lesser value.