CourtHelp Legal Glossary

1. The Judge who is sitting on the bench in a courtroom. 2. The administrator of the court's business.

A meeting of the Judge and both sides to talk about the trial. They talk about what will be presented to the jury, the evidence, the witnesses, and set a trial schedule. The Judge and the parties can also talk about settling the case.

A local agency that puts together a report about a criminal defendant's background so a Judge can decide to release or not release them from custody before trial.

Community based agency that helps families by giving support to keep youth at home or keep youth from entering foster care. These services include family therapy, after school programs, parenting programs, and day treatment programs.

Latin: “at first sight.” A “prima facie” case is when one side gives enough evidence to let a Judge make a decision in their favor. No other information is needed. Unless the other side can show something different, they will win.

When a child lives with one parent more than 50% of the time.

1. Before. 2. A term used to refer to a previous conviction.

A place were people who are convicted of a crime are held.

1. An advantage that not all people have. 2. A special right that lets a person be free from prosecution or other lawsuits.

The rules that let communication (conversations, emails, letters, etc.) between people in some relationships to stay private. Examples: Attorney/client; doctor /patient; spouse/spouse.

Latin: "For the good." Legal work done for free.

Latin: “For this occasion or particular purpose.” The permission given to a lawyer to try a case in a state where they are not licensed to practice law.

Latin: "On one's own behalf." A person who represents themself without an attorney.

Latin: “For the time being.” A referee or commissioner that temporarily replaces a judge.

A good reason to suspect that a person has committed or is committing a crime. More than a bare suspicion but less than evidence.

A court case that decides if a will is genuine (real). This case is started after a person who leaves a will dies and lets an executor manage the estate.

The department of each county's Surrogate’s Court that deals with probate, conservatorships, guardianships and the estates of people that have died.

1. When a person is set free by a Judge as long as they do or do not do certain things. For example, get a job or don't get rearrested. 2. A department of the court that prepares a presentence report.

See Department of Probation.

Officers of the probation department of a court. A probation officer's duties include conducting pre-sentence investigations, preparing pre-sentence reports on convicted defendants, and supervising defendants, who are out of jail on probation, to make sure they are doing what they’re supposed to do.

See presentence report.

All the rules that control a court case. The rules say how to start a case, serve papers, enter evidence into the court, etc. There are rules of civil procedure, criminal procedure, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure.

1. All the events in a case. 2. A specific part of a case, like a motion or a hearing.

The process of conducting court business.

The legal steps used by the court to notify parties and get power (jurisdiction) over them.