Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Removal, order of To send back; For example, an appellate court may remand a case to a lower court for retrial or for some change in disposition. Statute of limitations The judgment formally pronounced by the court upon the defendant after conviction in a criminal prosecution, imposing the punishment to be inflicted. Certiorari See writ of certiorari Malfeasance Unlawful conduct. Impanel To seat a jury. When voir dire is finished and both sides have exercised their challenges, the jury is impaneled. The jurors are sworn in and the trial is ready to proceed. Plea The defendant's formal response to a criminal charge (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere, not guilty by reason of insanity, and guilty and mentally ill). Nominal party One, who is joined as a party or defendant merely because the technical rules of pleading require his presence in the record, Expert testimony Testimony given in relation to some scientific, technical or professional matter by experts, i.e., persons qualified to speak authoritatively by reason of their special training, skill or familiarity with the subject.

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