Legal Definitions

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W  All
Panel:  (1) In appellate cases, a group of judges (usually three) assigned to decide the case; (2) In the jury selection process, the group of potential jurors.

Parties:  Plaintiffs and defendants (petitioners and respondents) to lawsuits, also known as appellants and appellees in appeals, and their lawyers.

Petit Jury (or Trial Jury):  A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.

Plaintiff:  The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

Plea:  In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.

Pleadings:  Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.

Precedent:  A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.

Pretrial Conference:  A meeting of the judge and lawyers to discuss which matters should be presented to the jury, to review evidence and witnesses, to set a timetable, and to discuss the settlement of the case.

Pro Se:  A Latin term meaning "on one's own behalf

Probation:  A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

Procedure:  The rules for the conduct of a lawsuit; there are rules of civil, criminal, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure.

Prosecute:  To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.



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