Abduction
Taking away by violence or fraud and persuasion; kidnapping. Usually a female or wife, child or ward.
Abet
See Aiding and Abetting.
Abstraction
Taking away with intent to harm or deceive.
Accessory
Not the perpetrator of the crime but in some way involved without being present in the commission of the crime.
Accessory After the Fact
One who helps a criminal to elude arrest.
Accessory Before the Fact
One who induces another to commit a crime
Acquittal
A not-guilty verdict absolving an accused party of guilt. Release or absolution.
Adjudication
The legal process by which a case or claim is settled. May also be the final pronouncement of judgment in a case or claim.
Adjudication Withheld
The court will withhold a decision until a future date. Usually some sort of probation is added and if the defendant complies with the conditions for a specified period of time, the case will be dismissed.
Administrative Order
An order by the chief judge governing a function of the Court.
Adult
An individual who is 18 years of age and over (see Minor and Child).
Affiant
A person making an affidavit.
Affidavit
A written statement of fact that is verified by oath or affirmation before a notary public.
Affirmative Defenses
The offering of new evidence in an attempt to avoid or mitigate judgment.
Affray
Brawl or disturbance. Not premeditated.
Aggravated
(assault, battery, arson, etc.) Circumstances surrounding the commission of a crime or tort which increase or add to its injurious consequences.
Aiding and Abetting
οΎ To assist and/or incite another to commit a crime.
AKA (A/K/A)
Also known as.
Alias
False name used in substitution of a legal name on official documents and for official purposes. Nicknames are not considered aliases. May be noted as AKA on criminal records. Alias process: A second or further writ, summons, execution or subpoena, used when the first or earlier process has for any reason failed to accomplish its purpose.
Alias process
A second or further writ, summons, execution or subpoena, used when the first or earlier process has for any reason failed to accomplish its purpose.
Alias subpoena
One issued after the first has been returned without having accomplished its purpose.
Alias summons
A summons issued when original has not produced its effect because defective in form or manner of service, and when issued, supersedes the first writ.
Amend
To change a complaint, motion, order, etc., that has already been filed.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The cost of credit over a full year. The law requires lenders to express financing terms of the APR.
Antitrust Acts or Laws
Laws to protect trade and commerce from unlawful practice.
Appeal
A request for a higher level review of a decision in which the involved person disagrees.
Appellant
One who makes a complaint to a superior court to review the decision of a lower court.
Appellate Court
A court having jurisdiction of appeal and review. Not a trial court.
Appropriate
To take something from another for one's own use or benefit.
Archive/Archives
The place where records are stored after a certain specified period of time. The period of time a record is held at a court of record may differ between courts and states.
Arraignment
A criminal defendant's first appearance before a judge. The primary purpose is to inform the defendant of what charge he is facing.
Arrest
The taking of an individual into custody by law enforcement personnel for the purpose of charging them with an illegal act.
Arrest Record
An official form completed by the police department when a person is arrested. Also, a cumulative record of all instances in which a person has been arrested.
Arson
The attempted or intentional destruction of property by fire or explosion.
Assault
An unlawful act that places another person in reasonable apprehension of receiving an immediate battery. Also defined as an attempt to commit a battery.The defendant must have intended to injure the victim or make the victim reasonably fear being struck. An assault is intentional, not an accident.
Attachment, Writ of
A writ instructing the sheriff to seize property and bring it into the custody of the court.
Average Daily Balance
A method of computing the figure on which the finance charge for credit card financing will be based. The account balances for each day in the billing period are totaled and divided by the number of days in the period.
