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Peremptory challenge
Each party to a suit tried to a jury has the right to peremptorily "challenge" (reject) a certain number of prospective jurors without giving a reason. By contrast, the parties have unlimited rights to challenge jurors for good cause, but the judge must approve "for cause challenges." Parties may not exercise peremptory challenges on the basis of race or gender.
Original jurisdiction
The court in which a matter must first be filed.
Indictment
An accusation of a criminal offense made by a grand jury
Preliminary hearing
A probable cause hearing which screens felony criminal cases by deciding whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. If the judge determines there is sufficient evidence, the defendant is "bound over" for trial. The defendant may waive this hearing.
Mitigating circumstance
A circumstance that may be considered to reduce the degree of moral culpability, although it does not entirely justify or excuse an offense.
Fraud
An intentional perversion of truth; deceitful practice or device resorted to with intent to deprive another of property or other right
Answer
A pleading by which defendant responds to the plaintiff's complaint
Condemnation
The legal process by which real estate of a private owner is taken for public use without the owner's consent, but theownerreceives "just compensation.
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