1. Legal and Court Terminology

2. Indictment A formal criminal charge against a person who then becomes the defendant.

3. Arraignment The defendant’s appearance in court to enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty.”

4. Misdemeanor a lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or county jail time for up to one year.

5. Felony a crime sufficiently serious to be punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison

6. Prosecutor Government attorney who presents the state's case against the defendant in a criminal case.

7. Defense the lawyer representing the defendant

8. Bailiff The officer who runs the courtroom at the judge’s direction.

9. Clerk The member of the judge’s staff who is responsible for legal research and other duties for the judge.

10. Court Reporter / Stenographer The person who records and transcribes everything that transpires in the courtroom.

11. Bench Where the judge or panel of judges sit.

12. Chambers Offices of the judge and judge’s staff.

13. Jurisdiction Authority to hear and decide a case.

14. Docket The list of cases on a court’s daily schedule.

15. Burden of Proof Duty to provide enough evidence to validate an allegation or charge. This burden is on the prosecution.

16. Opening statement an attorney’s first address to the jury at the beginning of the trial that summarizes what the case is about and what evidence they can expect

17. Direct and Cross Examinations DIRECT: DIRECT: Questioning of a witness called by the attorney doing the questioning. CROSS: CROSS: Questioning of the other party’s witness.

18. Rebuttal testimony or argument made in order to disprove testimony or evidence submitted by the opposition.

19. Objection a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of a question with the purpose of making the trial judge decide if the question can be asked

20. Sidebar conference attorneys “approach the bench” to discuss matters outside the jury’s hearing

21. Question of fact issue determined by the jury based on submitted evidence

22. Questions of law legal issue decided by the judge

23. closing statement/argument final statement made by an attorney to the jury to summarize the evidence and argue their case

24. Jury Charge or Instructions The set of legal instructions given to the jury by the judge before the jury begins to deliberate.

25. Verdict the decision of a jury after a trial, which must be accepted by the trial judge to be final

26. Acquittal what an accused criminal defendant receives if he/she is found not guilty. It is a verdict (a judgment in a criminal case) of not guilty.