Legal Definitions

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Magistrate Judges:  Judicial officers who assist U.S. district judges in getting cases ready for trial, who may decide some criminal and civil trials when both parties agree to have the case heard by a magistrate judge instead of a judge.

Misdemeanor:  Usually a petty offense, a less serious crime than a felony, punishable by less than a year of confinement.

Mistrial:  An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.



The definitions of the legal terms on this page are provided by the United States Department of Justice.