CourtHelp Legal Glossary

The maximum amount of money that a court can give. For example in small claims cases the most the court can award is $5,000.

The study of law and the structure of the legal system.

A person selected to be on a jury.

A group of citizens picked to decide a case. There are different types of juries. 1. Grand A group who decides if it seems reasonable (probable cause exists) that a crime has taken place and an indictment should happen. 2. hung A group that cannot agree on a verdict.

The local official responsible for giving the court lists of qualified potential jurors.

See Deliberation.

A paper filed by one side in a case asking for a jury. It requires the payment of a fee.

The guidelines given by the Judge at the beginning and end of a trial that explain what the law in the case is and how the jurors should look at the evidence.

A group of people from lists of registered voters, licensed drivers, state and local taxpayers, people receiving public assistance or unemployment benefits who can then be picked to sit on a jury.

A proceeding where the parties give the facts and the law to a jury for a decision.

A legal reason. The burden put on a person to show why a request should be granted. Also known a good cause.

A person younger than the legal age of adulthood, which usually is 18 years but in some cases is 21 years.

A person over 7 and less than 16 who commits an act that would be a crime if an adult did it. A 16 year old who commits a misdemeanor after September 30, 2018 is also a juvenile delinquent. This person receives supervision, confinement or treatment. For more serious crimes, a 13, 14, or 15 year old may be treated as a juvenile offender.

A 13, 14 or 15 year old person charged with murder in the 2nd degree, or a 14 or 15 year old person charged with certain violent felonies as listed in the Criminal Code.

An office of the Legal Aid Society that gives legal representation (Attorney for Child/Law Guardian) to children in Family Court cases.

Foster care placement with a family member.

A type of defense. The claim by one side in a case that his or her defense has been made weaker because the other side waited too long for no good reason in starting the case.

An owner, also called "lessor," that rents out real property to a tenant, also called "lessee."

An attorney appointed by the court to represent a child in contested custody matters. Usually called “attorney for the child.”

1. A court case started by a plaintiff claiming that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty causing harm to the plaintiff. 2. A legal disagreement given to the court to decide.

A person with a license to represent clients in a court of law and to advise them on legal matters.

A group of attorneys and certified social workers that help children. It acts as the attorney for children in foster care review and ending of paternal rights cases to protect and fight for the child's best interests and wishes.

1. An agreement for renting property, like land or an apartment or a car. A lease is usually on paper and it covers a specific amount of time, like one year. A rental agreement for a place where you live (apartment or house) can be a written agreement or a verbal agreement between the landlord and the tenant. 2. Verb. To give the right to have or use property (real or personal) temporarily for rent.

This means that, when possible, special education students must be placed in regular classrooms with non-disabled students while still having their special educational needs met.

An opinion as to how the law works in a specific case.