Legal Terminology R-S

Question 1

rebuttal

Answer 1

a plaintiff presents rebuttal evidence to contradict points made in the defendant’s case

Question 2

recant

Answer 2

a formal retraction of a previous statement

Question 3

recidivism

Answer 3

the tendency to repeat criminal behavior

Question 4

recidivist

Answer 4

a habitual repeat criminal

Question 5

recross

Answer 5

further questioning of a witness after redirect examination, carried out by the opposing party

Question 6

recuse

Answer 6

to disqualify

Question 7

redact

Answer 7

to edit or revise a document for publication

Question 8

redirect

Answer 8

further questioning of a witness after cross-examination by the party who first called the witness

Question 9

rehabilitated

Answer 9

reestablishing credibility with further evidence

Question 10

remainderman

Answer 10

a person to receive property after the death of a life tenant

Question 11

remitter

Answer 11

operation of law restoring an earlier valid title, replacing a later defective title

Question 12

remittitur

Answer 12

a court’s order reducing a grossly excessive jury award

Question 13

rescission

Answer 13

cancellation or annulment especially of a contract

Question 14

riparian

Answer 14

relating to water rights and access to rivers and streams

Question 15

ruling

Answer 15

court’s decision on a legal question raised in a case

Question 16

scofflaw

Answer 16

one who breaks the law and holds it in contempt

Question 17

sealed

Answer 17

not open to public scrutiny

Question 18

search warrant

Answer 18

judicial permission given to search for evidence of a suspected crime

Question 19

sentencing hearing

Answer 19

procedure after a criminal trial when the severity of the sentence is decided

Question 20

sequester

Answer 20

to remove or set apart

Question 21

settlement

Answer 21

an agreement between parties

Question 22

shepardizing

Answer 22

legal research into the ultimate outcome of a case after appeals

Question 23

sidebar

Answer 23

counsel and judge discuss matters outside the hearing of the jury

Question 24

standard of evidence

Answer 24

the amount or type needed to prevail

Question 25

standing doctrine

Answer 25

sufficient interest in the outcome to permit filing a lawsuit or participating in an action

Question 26

statutory law

Answer 26

law enacted by a legislature as opposed to common lawe

Question 27

strike

Answer 27

to remove a portion of the record from consideration by a fact-finder

Question 28

subject matter jurisdiction

Answer 28

cases or issues a court is authorized to hear

Question 29

suborn

Answer 29

to induce the commission of an unlawful act

Question 30

subpoena ad testificandum

Answer 30

order to come prepared to testify

Question 31

subpoena duces tecum

Answer 31

formal order to appear in court and supply specified documents

Question 32

summary judgment

Answer 32

a procedure where the court’s decision is rendered before completion of a full trial

Question 33

summation

Answer 33

the concluding argument of each party’s counsel before jury deliberation

Question 34

summons

Answer 34

official notice served upon a defendant ordering an appearance in court

Question 35

surplusage

Answer 35

irrelevant matter in a proceeding

Question 36

surrebuttal

Answer 36

a defendant may present surrebuttal evidence to counteract the plaintiff’s rebuttal