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Most Popular Legal Definitions

amicus curiae

Latin for "friend of the court," a party or an organization in an issue which files a brief or participates in the argument in a case in which the party or organization is not one of the litigants, for example; the ACLU often files briefs on behalf of a party who contends their constitutional rights have been violated

misfeasance

Improperly doing something which a person has he legal right to do.

Chief Justice

presiding judge of any State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court; the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the senate

lemon laws

state laws the ensure a certain degree of quality to consumers when purchasing a car; generally, if repairs can not be made within a specific time constraint, the consumer is to be refunded or compensated for original purchase price 

contempt of court

conduct that is disobedient, obstructive or contemptuous to the Court

attorney-client privilege

requirement that an attorney may not reveal communications, conversations and letters between himself/ herself and his/her client, under the theory that a person should be able to speak freely and honestly with his/her attorney without fear of future revelation

gerrymander

The intention setting of electoral boundaries taking into account traditional voting patterns, so as to attempt to influence the taking of an elected office.

adoption

the taking of a child into one's family, creating a parent to child relationship, and giving him or her all the rights and privileges of one's own child

per stirpes

Latin for "by branch," used to indicate the system by which children inherit a descendant's will when their parent has since deceased; an entitlement to participate in the distribution of property, such as an estate, that flows down to the named beneficiary's next heir if they are otherwise unable to take their share.


arraignment

the hearing in which a person is presented with the charges against them, given an opportunity to enter a plea, determined whether they have a lawyer, and if necessary set the bail amount and future appearances