Trial Terms #1

Question 1

prosecutor

Answer 1

person representing the government in a criminal case

Question 2

trier of fact

Answer 2

judge or jury

Question 3

evidence

Answer 3

documents, items, and testimony presented to prove each parties’ cases

Question 4

plaintiff

Answer 4

person initiating the complaint in a civil trial

Question 5

civil case

Answer 5

brought by someone alleging another person did something harmful or failed to do something they had a duty to do

Question 6

alibi

Answer 6

evidence showing the defendant was not present at the scene of the crime

Question 7

beyond a reasonable doubt

Answer 7

burden of proof in a criminal case

Question 8

discovery

Answer 8

process of sharing info and evidence before trial

Question 9

affidavit

Answer 9

written statement of facts made by witness before a trial

Question 10

defendant

Answer 10

the party accused of a crime or the subject of a complaint in a lawsuit

Question 11

trial

Answer 11

adversarial process to resolve a conflict

Question 12

preponderance of the evidence

Answer 12

burden of proof in a civil case

Question 13

impeachment

Answer 13

questioning the credibility of witnesses

Question 14

criminal case

Answer 14

brought by the government against a person accused of breaking the law

Question 15

testimony

Answer 15

an explanation of what a witness saw, heard, did, or experienced