Legal Terminology F-J

Question 1

F.2d, F.3d

Answer 1

second and third sets of published federal appellate decisions

Question 2

federal question

Answer 2

a case or issue which involves federal law or constitutional claims

Question 3

forum

Answer 3

venue, tribunal

Question 4

geographic jurisdiction

Answer 4

area within which a court may exercise its authority to hear cases

Question 5

grand jury

Answer 5

a special jury in criminal law which determines if evidence is sufficient to warrant a trial

Question 6

gravamen

Answer 6

the part of a charge that weighs most heavily against the accused, the primary subject matter of an issue

Question 7

hearsay

Answer 7

statement made by someone other than the witness who is testifying

Question 8

hearsay exception

Answer 8

exception on rules of hearsay

Question 9

hearsay rule

Answer 9

set of rules defining what is and what is not hearsay

Question 10

hostile witness

Answer 10

a witness called by one side but whose interests lie with the other party

Question 11

hypothecate

Answer 11

to pledge property as collateral for a debt

Question 12

impeached

Answer 12

testimony contradicted with sufficient proof as to affect a witness’s credibility

Question 13

indictment

Answer 13

document that a grand jury delivers once it has decided there is probable cause that the person committed the crime

Question 14

inference

Answer 14

logical conclusion drawn from a basis assumed or known to be true

Question 15

informant

Answer 15

someone who gives information

Question 16

injunction

Answer 16

an order either forbidding or compelling an action

Question 17

interlocutory

Answer 17

provisional, temporary, not yet finalized

Question 18

interrogatories

Answer 18

written questions posed before trial

Question 19

intervenor

Answer 19

a person voluntarily joining in an action with permission of the court

Question 20

intestate

Answer 20

dying without having prepared a valid will

Question 21

joinder

Answer 21

joining lawsuits together, joining parties together in a single suit

Question 22

joint tenancy

Answer 22

ownership of real property by two or more persons, each of whom has an undivided interest, whether with or without right of survivorship

Question 23

judgment

Answer 23

official court decision

Question 24

junior mortgage

Answer 24

a mortgage next in line to a prior mortgage

Question 25

jury instructions

Answer 25

the court’s explanation of the law applicable in a case given to the jury before their deliberations begin

Question 26

jury venire

Answer 26

an entire panel from which a jury is drawn

Question 27

justiciable

Answer 27

an issue which a court is capable to decide, a question appropriate for judicial consideration

Question 28

foreperson

Answer 28

the juror charged with overseeing jury deliberations

Question 29

independent medical examiner

Answer 29

a medical professional hired by the defense attorney for a medical exam who assesses the plaintiff’s health

Question 30

hearing

Answer 30

a court proceeding before a judge that resolves a specific question before a trial.