| |
R
- rap sheet
- See criminal history record information.
- ratio decidendi (RAY she oh DES ih DEN dye)
- Principle or rule of law on which a court decision is based.
- real evidence
- Physical evidence that plays a direct part in incident in question, as opposed to oral testimony.
- real property
- Land, anything growing on the land and anything erected on or attached to the land. Also called real estate.
- reasonable doubt
- State of mind in which jurors cannot say they feel confident that an individual is guilty of crime charged. See beyond a reasonable doubt.
- reasonable person
- Hypothetical person who sensibly exercises qualities of attention, knowledge, intelligence and judgment. Used as legal standard to determine negligence.
- rebuttal
- Evidence which disproves evidence introduced by the opposing party.
- recidivism (reh SID ih vizm)
- Relapse into former type of behavior, as when an individual relapses into criminal behavior. A habitual criminal is a recidivist.
- recognizance
- See personal recognizance.
- record
- Official documents, evidence, transcripts, etc., of proceedings in a case.
- recusal
- Process by which a judge excuses him/herself from hearing a case.
- recusation
- Plea by which defendant requests that judge hearing his/her trial excuse him/herself from case.
- re-direct examination
- Opportunity to question witness after cross-examination regarding issues brought up during the cross-examination. Compare rehabilitation.
- redress
- To set right; to remedy; to compensate.
- referral
- Process by which a juvenile case is introduced to court, agency or program where needed services can be obtained.
- referee
- Person appointed by a court to assist with certain proceedings, such as taking testimony.
- rehabilitation
- Reexamining a witness whose credibility has suffered during cross-examination to restore that witness's credibility. Compare re-direct examination.
- rehearing
- Another hearing of case by same court in which suit was originally heard.
- rejoinder
- Defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply.
- relevant evidence
- Evidence that tends to prove or disprove a matter at issue.
- relief
- See remedy.
- remand
- To send a case back to court where originally heard for further action. Also, to send an individual back into custody after a preliminary examination.
- remedy
- Means by which right or privilege is enforced or violation of right or privilege is prevented, redressed or compensated. Also called relief.
- remittitur (reh MID ih dur)
- Judge's reduction of damages awarded by jury.
- removal
- Transfer of state case to federal court for trial.
- replication
- Plaintiff's reply to defendant's plea, answer or counterclaim.
- replevin (reh PLEV in)
- Action for recovery of a possession wrongfully taken.
- reply
- Plaintiff's response to defendant's argument, counterclaim or answer. Plaintiff's second pleading.
- respondent
- See appellee.
- rest
- When one side finishes presenting evidence in a trial.
- restitution
- Return of something to its rightful owner. Also, giving the equivalent for any loss, damage or injury.
- restraining order
- Order prohibiting someone from harassing, threatening, contacting or even approaching another individual.
- retainer
- Act of a client in hiring an attorney. Also denotes fee client pays when retaining attorney.
- return
- Report to judge of action taken in executing writ issued by judge, usually written on the back of the writ. Also, the action of returning the writ to court.
- reverse
- Higher court setting aside lower court's decision.
- reversible error
- Error sufficiently harmful to justify reversing judgment of lower court. Also called prejudicial error. Compare harmless error.
- revocable trust (REV uh cuh b'l)
- Trust that grantor may change or revoke.
- revoke
- To cancel or nullify a legal document.
- robbery
- Felonious taking of another's property in that person's presence by force or fear. Differs from larceny.
- rule of court
- Rules governing how a given court operates.
- rules of evidence
- Standards governing whether evidence is admissible.
|