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Most Popular Legal Definitions
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.
authorities
1) previous decisions by courts of appeal which
provide legal guidance to a court on questions in a current lawsuit, which are
called "precedents;" legal briefs (written arguments) are often called "points
and authorities; thus, a lawyer "cites" the previously decided cases as
"authorities" for his/her legal positions 2) a common term for law enforcement,
as in "I'm going to call the authorities" (i.e. police)
pension
A private or government fund, from which regular
benefits and stipends are paid to a person upon their retirement or
disability.
affix
1) to attach something to real estate in a permanent way, including planting
trees and shrubs, constructing a building, or adding to existing improvements;
affixed items are permanent and cannot be picked up and moved away 2) to sign or
seal, "affix a signature or a seal"
force majuere
French for an act of God; an inevitable,
unpredictable act of nature.
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
malicious prosecution
A tort which compensates a person for the malicious, unfounded and unsuccessful
institution of criminal or disciplinary proceedings.
session
1) A meeting of a court for a particular period
of time. 2) the term of an appeals court covering several months.
promissory estoppel
A promise made that the contract will not be
enforced in whole or in part and which prevents subsequent proceedings to
enforce the contract against the person who relied on the promise.
fiduciary
A legal duty of loyalty and faithfulness towards
another.