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Most Popular Legal Definitions

felony

A serious crime for which the punishment would entail more than a year of imprisonment.

suicide

The intentional killing of oneself.

foreclosure

To eliminate a right of redemption on mortgaged real property.

abuse of discretion

when a trial judge makes an egregious mistake during a trial or on the ruling of a motion that is results in an unfair trial

case law

Reported decisions of appeals courts and other courts which make new interpretations of the law and, therefore, can be cited as precedents. These interpretations are distinguished from "statutory law," which is the statutes and codes (laws) enacted by legislative bodies.

grievance arbitration

The resolution of a dispute as to an alleged grievance by arbitration.

transcript

An official direct and verbatim written record of what was said, as in a court of law or other judicial proceedings.

private law

Law which regulates the relationships between individuals. Family, commercial, and labor law are examples of private law because the focus is on the relationships between corporations and relationships between individuals.

vigilante

Someone who takes the law into his/her own hands by trying or punishing another person without any legal authority.

testator

The signatory of a valid will.