Certificate Of Deposit (CD)
A document issued by a bank in return for a deposit of money which pays a fixed
interest rate for a specified period. Interest rates on CD's are usually higher
than savings accounts because banking institutions require a commitment to leave
money in the CD for a fixed period of time.
Certiorari
A writ of a higher court to a lower court to send all the documents in a case to
it so the higher court can review the lower court's decision. Certiorari is most
commonly used by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is selective about which cases it
will hear on appeal.
Cestui Que Trust
1) an old fashioned expression for the beneficiary of a trust 2) "The one who
trusts," or the person who will benefit from a the trust and will receive
payments or a future distribution from the trust's assets
Cestui Que Use
An old fashioned term for a person who benefits from assets held in a trust for
the beneficiary's use. The term "beneficiary" is now used instead.
Chain Of Title
The succession of title ownership to real property from the present owner back
to the original owner at some distant time.
Challenge
The right of each attorney in a jury trial to request that a juror be excused.
There may be a "challenge for cause" on the basis the juror had admitted
prejudice or shows some obvious conflict of interest.
Challenge For Cause
A request that a prospective juror be dismissed because there is a specific and
forceful reason to believe the person cannot be fair, unbiased or capable of
serving as a juror.
Chambers
The private office of a judge, usually close to the courtroom so that the judge
can enter the court from behind the bench and not encounter people on the way.
Champerty
An agreement between the party suing in a lawsuit and another person, usually an
attorney, who agrees to finance and carry the lawsuit in return for a percentage
of the recovery.
Chancellor
From the Old English legal system, a chancellor is a judge who sits in what is
called a chancery (equity) court with the power to order something be done (as
distinguished from just paying damages).